While it may come as a surprise that 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko is in the finals of Roland Garros, by way of today’s three set win over Timea Bacsinszky, the young Latvian has shown consistent career results in the glamour events.
Ostapenko won the 2014 Wimbledon junior event. In 2015 she beat no. 9 seed Carla Saurez Navarro at Wimbledon, losing only two games.
Last year the bubbly teen continued her gradual ascent by reaching the semifinals of the Wimbledon mixed doubles with partner Olivier Marach (lost to Kontinen and Watson the eventual champions).
Also in 2016 at Aegon, Ostapenko beat Petra Kvitova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
This year Ostapenko began working with two time Roland Garros doubles champ Anna Medina Garrigues and the partnership paid quick dividends. Ostapenko made the third round in Melbourne and served for the match vs Karolina Pliskova but lost in three sets.
She rebounded to win the St Petersburg doubles title with Rosolska.
The best singles result of Ostapenko’s career came in April in Charleston where she beat Wozniacki and Lucic Baroni to make the finals where she lost to Daria Kasatkina. This effort placed Ostapenko into the WTA top fifty.
In Paris Ostapenko has rolled all the way to the final and is just one win away from making tennis history as the first Latvian to win a Grand Slam singles title (Larisa Savchenko Neiland won the French Open and Wimbledon in 1989 and 1991 and represented Latvia though she was born in Ukraine).
But in Ostapenko’s path will be no 3 seed and former Roland Garros finalist Simona Halep, who showed incredible defensive skills and retrieving abilities in dispatching Pliskova in three sets.
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1 2 3 4 Next »catherine · June 8, 2017 at 2:27 pm
‘incredible defensive skills’, ‘retrieving abilities’ ?
Needs someone with incredible attacking skills to beat Simona and I can’t see Ostapenko doing that at present.
Good effort to reach the final though.
I’d forgotton about Larisa Savchenko although I did see her play a few times and I’d totally forgotten she won Wimbledon and FO.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 2:33 pm
Halep had more clay all over her body and clothes and it was even on the back of her neck! Halep did a lot of running and stretching and reaching all day chasing down Pliskova's bullets and it will only be harder work on Saturday. Ostapenko is right on that level of Pliskova (nearly beat her in Oz) and probably more confident though you have to wonder how nerves will affect her in her first GS final? Fascinating duel between the fearless youngster and the overdue veteran.
Hartt · June 8, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Andrew should like the fact that Ostapenko plays a lot of doubles, in fact has 2 WTA doubles titles in 2017. Timea also mentioned in her press conference before the match that she and Jelena have played doubles together.
The youngster has so much power and when those shots are going in will be a very tough opponent.
catherine · June 8, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Scoop – you’re the second person here to call Simona a ‘veteran’ at 25 ! When do you stop being young and become a veteran ? Used to be around 30 I think.
Not a lot wrong with Simona’s ankle it has to be said.
catherine · June 8, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Hartt –
I’m just wondering if nerves are going to send some of those power shots out – however, her record in doubles, with 2 titles this year, may give her some confidence.
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 4:36 pm
I didn’t enjoy her game much on the green clay. I was as surprised she made that final as this one. But fact is she’s in the final. That’s a fact. Other facts are that either player can win on Saturday.
Yes in comparison it’s upstart versus Halep. Both have the chance of a lifetime. But Halep just got Svitolina back and turned away Pliskova, everyone’s champ in waiting. And Ostapenko enters a final with no one knowing about her.
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Ostapenko is no Gulbis. Or is she?
AnonymousFan · June 8, 2017 at 5:04 pm
I wonder how heavily Halep is going to be favored. I can't remember anyone this young to make the final since Wozniacki.
10isfan · June 8, 2017 at 5:14 pm
How will Ostapenko handle the situation?
If she takes the "nothing to lose" attitude as the lower ranked player, she can win. If she succumbs to nerves that come with the novelty of playing her first slam final, she will lose. The outcome is on her racket.
I'm hoping Halep wins the title. She won't get many chances to win a slam. Ostapenko being a young, offensive player will have multiple opportunities.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Pliskova said after “no disrespect to Jelena but i would bet eve everything i own on Simona.” More pressure on Halep now and morw motivation for Ostapenko.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Halep is a “veteran.” senen yrs on the tour equals “veteran.”
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Either can win. Like Scoop said, whoever is looking forward to the fight. Halep has done an incredible job in vanquishing old foes. And Ostapenko in beating her elders. Can young veteran Halep get over herself? Yes. Can Ostapenko rise to the challenge? Yes. Will either? Who knows.
I’m amazed Ostapenko has given herself a shot to win all the marbles. As amazed as i am that Halep has gone from marshmellow in the late stages of matches to a cold hearted no mercy showing almost champion.
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 6:47 pm
And can Donald Young win his first slam?
Yes.
Moxie · June 8, 2017 at 6:58 pm
A fearless young player is a dangerous thing. I like both players. I'm inclined for Simona, for the same reasons as you. Then you add Darren Cahill in the mix, and his tough love approach with her recently, that tips me rather over to her side. But the kid has a new fan in me.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 7:35 pm
Ostapenko is a scary player with all that power and that carefree smile and joy. Halep is a machine right now and it seems it's her time and she won't be denied. But if Ostapenko hits a couple of rope winners and line kissers and Halep suddenly loses the first two deuce games to be down 0-2 everything can change. Like I said this is such a fascinating duel.
Chazz · June 8, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Scoop, I agree, no robots is a good thing for the championship final! I like that these two are fighters and show emotion on the court. I also think having a young player that is the opposite of a pusher will make it especially interesting.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 8:15 pm
Chazz; it could not be more interesting of a final. The most talented WTA player who has not won a major vs Miss Shock the World. Pliskova is a great player and a nice person but she is very dull to watch. She plays every single point the same way. What does she need a coach for? Carillo was trying to make her seem so cerebral during the NBC telecast but her game is about as one dimensional as they come.
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 8:48 pm
I like the Pliskova game. She hits huge. Well rounded. Have to really beat her. Maybe she’s different in Czech. Showed no fear in 2016 us open. Just hasn’t gotten another sniff at a slam title, and to a large degree she hasn’t been able to impose her game this year. Could again be the x on her back. She’s weathered it better than Kerber.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Pliskova had a nice run this year in Roland Garros after doing nothing previously in her career on clay so you would have to presume she can win a major on clay. She easily could have won today if Halep did not have her A plus game. To me Pliskova is too robotic and stoic like Raonic. Both of these players need to express more emotion and desire not suppress it.
AnonymousFan · June 8, 2017 at 9:16 pm
I feel the same way. Man, CoCo's run was entertaining during AO.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2017 at 9:25 pm
Coco is definitely one of the best characters in pro tennis right now and we need more Cocos, Anonymous Fan. I hope Pliskova can become more expressive and outwardly tenacious like Kvitova. It could make such a difference in her results. Stoicism is nice but it does not win majors anymore.
catherine · June 8, 2017 at 10:17 pm
What’s CoCo done since ? Thing about character, you can’t change it at will. You’ve got to go with what you’ve got once you are a mature person.
Duke Carnoustie · June 8, 2017 at 11:23 pm
Meanwhile in other news, Taylor Fritz, remember him, was ousted by No. 180 Andrew Whittington in the first round in Surbiton. Reilly Opelka gets a crack at Whittington next.
Over in the Czech Republic, Tennys Sandgren is in the semis with a showdown against rejuvenated Jack Sock conquerer Jiri Vesely. Sandgren has knocked off Kicker and Basilashvili in this event.
Andrew Miller · June 8, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Scoop may be right, Pliskova may be the femme Raonic. I thought she was a bit more mobile, her footwork seems good to me. Her groundies are clean, deep, hard. She gets the ping sound off the racquet, like Rios!
She seemed more confidant at us open. Like Scoop said French semis = excellent result. Credit to Halep for knocking her out.
I like Plisko more than Muguruza by a long shot. I still even with Catherine’s explanation not get why I don’t like Muguruza. I should become her fan just to find something to like about her game.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 12:02 am
Duke that’s a nice run from Sandgren. Baliashvili hasn’t gotten much out of his Memphis run, but the fact both he and Harrison, the Memphis finalists, have stayed busy and have kept up their form is good for the grass and summer hard-court seasons. They have not drifted.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 12:03 am
Coco has been underwhelming since Australia. My guess is Hingis being gone.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 12:14 am
Ostapenko reminds of the young Bouchard. And I must say that the Halep-Pliskova match looked like a title bout. Wow, that was serious skill. I’m pulling for the vets on the wta. Will pure desire and aggression win out, or will the past Roland Garros finalist turn back the tide? It is pretty riveting. I hope the vet goes for it.
catherine · June 9, 2017 at 1:05 am
You make poor Simona sound as though she should be in a wheelchair 🙂
The vet will do it though. (hope my prediction for FO is better than my prediction of UK election result – end of politics!!!)
catherine · June 9, 2017 at 1:11 am
From Angie Kerber’s Twitter, post FO :
‘Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations’.
Make what you like of that.
catherine · June 9, 2017 at 1:42 am
Maybe Angie means :
‘say not the struggle naught availeth’.
Jimmy the Gent · June 9, 2017 at 8:45 am
i’m sensing premo-choke-time for one of them in the final..
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 9:04 am
Harrison-Venus into the doubles final! Harrison and Young in the doubles final makes it very interesting. Good for those guys.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 9:07 am
It’s clear one is a better player and one is a more aggressive player. What wins out who knows. Wheelchair? I didn’t express that. I said the Pliskova Halep match looked like the final. The Bacsinsky Ostapenko match looked more like a rd of 16. None of that matters in the final.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 9:09 am
Harrison and DY in the final! Wow. These guys are all about getting the silver linings. Good for them. I’m proud of em!
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2017 at 9:11 am
Duke; Fritz has definitely fallen backwards in the last half year and his once bright future suddenly looks hazy.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2017 at 9:13 am
The root of this great Sandgren run was th 76 in the third win vs Opelka in the first round of the Sarasota Challenger – what a fantastic win that was for Sandgren. I was lucky to witness this career changing win.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2017 at 9:14 am
Andrew; Ostapenko needs as Army to compare to Genie 🙂 May I appoint you as lieutenant general of Ostapenko's Army?
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2017 at 9:16 am
Two Americans in the mens doubles finals and two American juniors in the girls final – Whitney Osigwuie vs Claire Liu, US Tennis is becoming a force on red clay.
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 9:21 am
Opelka just beat Whittington (the guy who beat Fritz) in 3.
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 9:22 am
Also, Vesely beat Sandgren in the semis of Prostejov, 6-2, 6-2.
catherine · June 9, 2017 at 9:31 am
Andrew –
my wheelchair comment referred to Simona being termed a ‘veteran’, sounds funny to me – I realised afterwards that it could have been misconstrued. Just a joke.
One thing – I hope this tournament signals the end of OCC for Simona – she doesn’t need it and does better without it.
Experience will out in the final – Simona in 2.
I wondered if Angie’s twitter message indicated any change in her attitude, approach, circumstances etc. She posted it on June 1st and nothing since.
(BTW I don’t normally look at social media but in this case I did, curious how/if she might comment on her situation)
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 11:22 am
When Wawrinka is at his best, it is a thing of beauty. He is just ripping winners all over the place. I don’t know how these do it over 4 hours into a match.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2017 at 11:42 am
Stan looks unbeatable when he's at his highest level he makes everyone look helpless. Stan at his best his very best may be GOAT.
catherine · June 9, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Stan is extremely strong. He doesn’t outwardly appear Mr Muscleman but he has tremendous strength and stamina. I’ll never forget his dismantling of Federer at RG a couple of years back. Amazing.
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Thiem looked flat for most of the first set. Let’s hope he plays better or this won’t be a great match to watch.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Stan can do it. I predict Stan wins.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Ostapenko’s army sounds bad. She’s got an aggressive game. She is the Latvian Bouchard.
Andrew Miller · June 9, 2017 at 2:28 pm
I’d like to see Halep go for it.
AnonymousFan · June 9, 2017 at 3:59 pm
Ah, name sounds familiar. El Dude used to (still does?) mention him as the young USA hopeful.
Chazz · June 9, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Alright guys, stats time. Games lost by Nadal before final at French Open:
2017: 29
2014: 40
2013: 87
2012: 35
2011: 77
2010: 61
2008: 37
2007: 51
2006: 69
2005: 61