Tag: Jelena Ostapenko

Defending champion Iga Swiatek was sent crashing out of the US Open on Sunday, losing in three sets to Latvia’s 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko fought back after losing the opening set to record a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory in 1hr 48min and will now face American sixth seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The defeat means Polish star Iga Swiatek will end her 75-week reign as women’s world number one when the rankings are updated after the US Open, with rival Aryna Sabalenka set to take over top spot.

Ostapenko’s victory also extends her unbeaten record against Swiatek after wins in all three of her previous meetings with her.

“I always expect a tough battle against Iga, she’s such a great player and won many Slams and is so consistent,” Ostapenko said after her win on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

“I knew I had to be aggressive and play my game because that’s what she doesn’t like.

“I was just thinking that I have to play until the very last point, until we shake hands. I felt like I was playing better and didn’t give her many chances.”

Iga Swiatek had cruised into the fourth round after not dropping a set in her first three matches, looking in prime form to defend the title she won last year.

On Sunday she finally looked ready to score a first victory over Ostapenko, playing confidently to take the first set.

But Ostapenko snatched an early break in the second set and then held for a 3-0 lead and Swiatek was always struggling thereafter.

She managed to break Ostapenko and served to level at 4-4, but instead was broken again to give the Latvian a 5-3 lead.

Jelena Ostapenko then survived a break point to close out the set at 6-3.

In the third, Swiatek had no answer to Ostapenko as she broke the champion twice in the first three games to take 3-0 lead.

She then broke Iga Swiatek in the fifth game to go 5-0 ahead.

Although Ostapenko was broken as she served for the match, Swiatek again struggled on serve and was broken again to go tumbling out.

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EASTBOURNE: Petra Kvitova warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Eastbourne singles title for the first time with a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday.

Kvitova needed just 77 minutes to finish off former French Open champion Ostapenko as the Czech veteran produced the kind of dominant grass-court tennis that earned her two Wimbledon titles.

The 32-year-old, who lost the 2011 Eastbourne final to Marion Bartoli, ended Ostapenko’s reign as the women’s champion at Devonshire Park in emphatic fashion, demolishing the Latvian with her booming serve and fierce forehands.

“I had already experienced losing in a final, so I guess I am lucky. Playing on the grass is very special for me, especially when you step onto a beautiful court such as here,” Kvitova said.

“It’s really nice to play in front of the people again; in the pandemic, it was a really tough time, it’s such a better feeling.”

Kvitova’s 29th career singles title is a major confidence boost ahead of her Wimbledon first-round meeting with Italian Jasmine Paolini.

Former world number two Kvitova claimed the first of her two Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2011 and won there again three years later.

The Czech last reached a Grand Slam final at the Australian Open in 2019.

The last player to win Eastbourne and go on to triumph at Wimbledon in the same year was the late Czech player Jana Novotna in 1998.

Asked about her compatriot, who died at the age of 49 in 2017, Kvitova said: “It’s always nice to think about Jana, of course.

“She had so many great matches, not only here but in Wimbledon as well.

“I’m glad that we are able to play such a great event as here. It’s the best preparation for Wimbledon.”

Despite the one-sided defeat, Ostapenko, scheduled to play in the women’s doubles final alongside Ukrainian partner Lyudmyla Kichenok later on Saturday, was pleased with her overall performance on the south coast.

“She played really well, so congrats. Of course, for me, it was not the result I wanted, but in general, I have to take the positive out of this week because I think I played some great tennis, even though today didn’t go my way,” Ostapenko said.

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