Since bursting onto the professional tennis scene six years ago, Jelena Ostapenko has been a formidable threat in all tournaments. With her fearless shotmaking and aggressive style of play, she has the ability to overpower any opponent on any surface. Most recently, she demonstrated her skills by defeating Iga Swiatek, the reigning champion and world No. 1, at the US Open, securing her spot in the quarter-finals with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
By defeating Swiatek, Ostapenko ended her 75-week reign as the top-ranked player in the world. Following the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka will take over the No. 1 spot for the first time in her career. Swiatek expressed that the pressure of maintaining her top-ranking status weighed heavily on her mind, suggesting that she may not yet be mature enough to handle the expectations. She acknowledged that she needs to make some changes in her approach to the game.
On the other hand, Ostapenko explained that she was able to play with such freedom against Swiatek because she knew the pressure was on her opponent. She recognized Swiatek’s consistency and acknowledged that playing aggressively was key to putting her opponent in trouble.
The matchup between players in tennis is crucial. Swiatek has previously struggled against big-hitting players who can overpower her from the baseline and rush her groundstrokes. Ostapenko, with her powerful game, took advantage of this weakness and capitalized on her mental edge over Swiatek. Although Swiatek had shown improvement since their last encounter, Ostapenko’s aggressive and fast style of play proved challenging for her.
Throughout the match, both players displayed their skills and resilience. Swiatek showcased excellent defense and managed to take the first set. However, Ostapenko adjusted her game, particularly her serve, and began to gain control of the baseline. Swiatek started to struggle, making unforced errors and losing control of her second serve. Ostapenko capitalized on these weaknesses and seized control of the match, eventually winning the final set convincingly.
Ostapenko’s journey has been a rollercoaster since her unexpected French Open win at the age of 20. She has faced challenges in handling the pressure and expectations that come with such a significant victory. Despite returning to the top 20 rankings last year, she has yet to secure another grand slam title. She acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to the attention and pressure, emphasizing that it is impossible to win every match due to human limitations.
In the next round, Ostapenko will face Coco Gauff, a formidable opponent and the sixth seed. This match promises to be another thrilling clash between two talented players vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
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