Jelena Ostapenko narrowly avoided a first round exit at the Western and Southern Open by rallying back to defeat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(5).
The former Wimbledon girls’ champion seemed destined for yet another first round exit this season after trailing by a set and a double break to her Slovakian opponent. Facing two match points in the second set, the world No.39 triumphantly battled her way back to force a decider. Proceedings weren’t any easier in the third set for Ostapenko, who had to once again recover from a double break down before sealing the match after almost three hours of play.
“I’m sorry about the first set – I couldn’t put a ball in the court – but I’m really happy I saved two match points on her serve and fought to the end and that I could finish the match,” the Latvian was quoted by wtatour.com as saying.
Ostapenko’s successful comeback from a poor opening set, where she only won 41% of her service points, comes as a huge relief for the 19-year-old after what has been a mixed season. Earlier this year she played in her maiden premier-level final at the Doha Open, where she lost to Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro. Since then, Ostapenko had endured a series of first round exits. Prior to this week, the Latvian has lost in the first round of a main draw in 10 out of her 21 tournaments this year.
“I don’t know what was wrong with me today; I was losing, but then when I was losing I was playing better. Then in the third set I was 2-0, 40-0 up on her serve. After that I lost five games in a row. I know what happened. But then I started to fight again and I’m glad I could win the match.” She said.
In the second round Ostapenko will play Czech 15th seed Karolina Pliskova in what will be their first meeting on the tour.
Another early winner on the second day of the rain-affected tournament was Daria Gavrilova, who enjoyed a more straightforward route into the second round. The world No.47, who came through two rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw, stunned France’s Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-3. Gavrilova was particularly impressive on her first serve during the encounter, winning 84% of the points.
Gavrilova will next play Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who stunned Serena Williams at the Olympic Games last week.
