Jelena Ostapenko signalled her return to form in stunning style with an impressive 6-3 6-4 win over Johanna Konta at the Nature Valley Classic.
The Latvian, 22, earned just her second win since 3 April when she beat Iga Swiatek 6-0 6-2 in the first round, and she followed it up in ideal fashion today to secure a place in the last eight for the second time in her career.
“It was a good match from my side,” Ostapenko said. “I had nothing to lose because Jo is in great form right now and she made the semis at Roland Garros. She is a very good player on grass.”
She continued, “So I came into the match without any expectations, but I tried to play my game and be more aggressive. And I think that helped me to win today, as I didn’t really give her time to play her game.”
After tricky start, Ostapenko dominates
The 2017 French Open champion got through probably her toughest spell of the match immediately when she saved three break points with some excellent serving in her opening service game.
The Latvian then hit a series of superb groundstrokes to break Konta in the second game. After that, she never surrendered her stranglehold on the set and clinically closed it out 6-3.
At the beginning of the second set, both players came through difficult service games. However, when Ostapenko got another chance to break in the third game, she seized it to move ahead.
In the sixth game, the World No.37 faltered and she dropped serve for the first time. Unfortunately for Konta, she was unable to capitalise as the Latvian returned brilliantly to break her again.
It was a sequence that summed up the match. Every time Ostapenko was faced with a crucial point, she came up with a big serve or a stunning groundstroke that gave the Brit no chance. It was breathtaking tennis.
After that brief spell of drama, the rest of the match passed without incident as Ostapenko comfortably held twice to clinch a comprehensive victory.
“(Beating a top player like Konta) gives me extra confidence,” the Latvian said. “Right now I know I am on the right path and it’s just a matter of time (before I get to the level I want), but I think I’m getting there and grass is helping me.
She continued, “If I get more consistent, it will be harder for players to beat me. So I’m just trying to find my consistency and get my confidence back and I think once I have it, I will be a very dangerous player.”
