Paula Badosa continues her run of upsets with the KO to Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open

Embed from Getty Images Jelena Ostapenko let her entire game go to pieces at the French Open. Despite her late surge of good luck, a majority was with 22-year-old Paula Badosa who won 6-4, 6-3 on Simonne Mathieu Court at Roland Garros. It was an upset that many thought would go to three sets but a one-way run from the Spaniard made it easy to continue her hot streak. 

The Spaniard season at Grand Slams had been her best to date, making it to the second round at the Australian Open. With another move deep into a slam tournament, the Spaniard had her work cut out for her, playing well against Sloane Stephens in a second three-set win. Ostapenko’s improvement this season gave her confidence to shoot for a second title in Paris but holding off her next opponent would continue to be a task for the 23-year-old. 

She found that out as Badosa worked out a terrific opening serve before adding a break to her score. She widened out to three break points before the Latvian came back to save two, but not a third. Ostapenko broke back in the third and held to level the score, getting out of an early hole. Badosa picked up where she left off, scoring the double break as Ostapenko’s double faults came into play. 

The Spaniard consolidated things in the sixth to regain her two gam margin. The Latvian tried to stay close with the 22-year-old but unforced errors from her end were scarcely made. It led to her taking control with a 5-3 hold. Ostapenko managed to hold a second service game, but the Spaniard continued her solid brand of tennis. Despite heavy opposition from the Latvian, she produced a total of four set points, getting the victory on an error from Ostapenko to complete 45 minutes. 

The 23-year-old screamed in frustration before the set break but came into the second with ferocity. Reaching 40-0, Ostapenko committed an error but put down a winner to take the first game. Sensing an opportunity during the second, Ostapenko screamed once more when she failed to counter on Badosa’s serve that leveled at one-all. Unforced errors rattled the 23-year-old, giving a free game and break to the Spaniard. She made it 3-1 with a solid hold, leading Ostapenko to have another verbal shout at herself. 

Badosa had the double break in hand, cruising to her goal of moving into the round of 16. Ostapenko tried to get out of her head and reel things in, doing so on deuce where the first AD point was due to a winner from the forehand. Two more from her came in the seventh, getting a jump on the Spaniard. Badosa went on serve, attempting to hold back the Latvian from overtaking her. 

A big hold from the 22-year-old put her in place to play for the match with Ostapenko down two games. A wild double fault from the Latvian caused a big crash in her offense as Badosa closed in on the victory. The Latvian had a couple big points to bring her to deuce but another double fault brought match point. An unforced error gave Badosa the coveted winner just as the rain was falling hard. It took the young Spaniard 1 hour and 22 minutes to defeat a former French Open champion, letting the tears fall from under a towel as she advanced into the sweet 16.