Before the second round of the French Open Championship, Alona Ostapenko, the first Latvian women’s tennis racket, realized that mistakes against Karolina Plīškovs would be costly, Ostapenko emphasized after winning a press conference and then in the Eurosport virtual studio.
It has already been reported that Ostapenko in the second round with 6-4, 6-2 beat the famous Czech tennis players Karoline Pliskov. Ostapenko is 43rd in the WTA rank, but Plishkov is the fourth racket on the planet and was sown with the second number in Paris.
She realized that she would have to receive the services well, because the opponent is one of the best waiters on the tour. Ostapenko also noted that it was important to perform the short strokes well.
“I also had to keep my serve, which I did, except a few times in the first set. I wasn’t allowed to give her any presents. I think I did it very well,” said Ostapenko, who started working with Swedish coach Thomas Hegsted this autumn.
Ostapenko is the fifth French Open championship in her career, and she overcame the first round only this year and in 2017, when she sensationally triumphed in the tournament and achieved one of the greatest successes in the history of Latvian sports.
“I think my game is similar to 2017, but I feel much stronger physically than then. But those were other circumstances and hard to compare because I was fearless at the time and no one knew anything about me. Now all the players know how I I can play and how to play against me, so I try to prepare for each match as well as possible, “explained Ostapenko.
This is Ostapenko’s third tournament since the season resumed. After losing in the first round of the Rome WTA “Premier 5” tournament last week, Latvia’s first racket reached the quarterfinals of the Strasbourg WTA “International” series tournament, where the Japanese woman Nao Hibino lost while fighting her abdominal pain.
“I am in good shape and have played two good matches, as well as some games in Strasbourg. I am gradually getting back in shape and regaining the rhythm of the games,” Ostapenko noted.
The Latvian tennis player did not participate in tournaments in the USA, instead training mostly on clay.
“I tried to stabilize my service. Since I had not played for almost six months, the first match in Rome was very difficult. Strasbourg was already better, but I feel even better here. Today was not my best tennis, but close to it,” stressed Ostapenko.
Since triumphing in the French Open, she has won only two International tournaments and had dropped from fifth to nineteen at one time.
“Of course I want to achieve more and return to the top five or ten. Step by step. I also work on it – I try to be stable while maintaining aggression. Aggressive play can help me to win a lot, but the key point would be stability, “admitted Ostapenko.
She is inspired by Naomi Osaka, who recently won the US Open.
“I saw Osaka win. Of course I want to get back to the top with another Grand Slam trophy. As new generation players, we inspire each other,” Ostapenko said.
Meanwhile, Plishkov admitted that he could have played better.
“I knew she was a solid nut when she played well, but I think all the problems started with me. I definitely didn’t play well,” Plīškova concluded.
For reaching the third round, the 2017 “French Open” champion Ostapenko has earned 130 WTA ranking points.
In the fight for the eighth final, Ostapenko will compete with American Sloeev Stevens (WTA 34th) or Spanish Paul Bados Hiberta (WTA 87).
–
