Jelena Ostapenko Triumphs in Adelaide to Set Herself Up for Australian Open

Hard-hitting Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko has emerged as a strong contender for the upcoming Australian Open after a dominant performance at the Adelaide International. Ostapenko, currently ranked 12th in the world, claimed her seventh WTA title by defeating Daria Kasatkina in the final. The match took place at Memorial Drive and saw Ostapenko showcase her powerful playing style, hitting 32 winners compared to Kasatkina’s 12.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Ostapenko, who returns to the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2018. In her post-match interview, she credited her aggressive and consistent play, as well as her increased maturity as a player, for her success. Ostapenko expressed her happiness at the win, albeit acknowledging her fatigue.

Ostapenko’s path to the final was not an easy one. As the sixth seed, she faced challenging opponents such as Sorana Cirstea and Caroline Garcia in the earlier rounds. A leg injury forced her to withdraw from the doubles draw, but it didn’t hinder her performance in the singles tournament.

On the other hand, Kasatkina had a different journey to the final. She received back-to-back walkovers, meaning she didn’t play any matches since Wednesday. This could have contributed to her appearing off the pace during the final. Kasatkina, who was also vying for her seventh title, praised Ostapenko and expressed gratitude for the peaceful environment they shared on the court.

Ostapenko’s win sets her up as a player to watch in the upcoming Australian Open, which will be broadcasted live on Eurosport. She will face Australian player Kim Birrell in the first round of the Grand Slam. Ostapenko previously reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2020 and hopes to go even further this year. With a strong start to the season, including a quarterfinal appearance at the Brisbane International, Ostapenko aims to break into the top 10 rankings and maintain her position among the top players in the world.