Jelena Ostapenko works Oceane Dodin out of Wimbledon in straight sets

Jelena Ostapenko smashes a forehand across court to Oceane Dodin in their first-round match at the Championships Wimbledon

Jelena Ostapenko got into a quick battle but held the way to win at the Championships Wimbledon Tuesday. Despite a late start to her opening round match with Oceane Dodin, the Latvian held off the competition to win 6-4, 6-4 on Court 17 at the All England Tennis Club.

Despite losing out on back-to-back titles in Eastbourne, the Latvian was more than ready to meet her French opponent for the third time. Their last match in Doha went to the former French Open champion, who wanted to take all her progress this grass-court season and return to the semis from four years ago. Dodin only played one match on grass, leaving her vulnerable against the 12th seed. Despite the lack of work on the surface, Dodin had the capabilities to put into play.

Ostapenko opened the scoring with a serve to love, followed by a break gifted by the French star herself. Dodin broke back with terrific winning returns on every shot, but tying in a hold of serve was denied by the Latvian, who took a 3-1 stance. She adjusted to her serve against the breeze on the court to consolidate and take a 4-1 lead on Dodin. The French star cracked onto the score with a hold of serve, but Ostapenko continued to climb closer to taking the set, holding her end in the seventh.

Dodin inched closer to Ostapenko in back-to-back victories that saw the 12th seed struggle with returns. A game separated the two going into the ninth and Dodin on the service. She tried to get the victory that would level the score but reached deuce on errors. She handed the Latvian four set points until a long return ended the set for the 12th seed in 34 minutes. Unforced errors rattled both players in the end with 19, but the 11 winners Ostapenko produced were enough to help her edge ahead.

The 12 seed didn’t have the room to make errors in the second set, as Dodin followed her on holding serves through four games. In the fifth, the French star broke Ostapenko before she suffered one right back. The Latvian put together a serve to love in the seventh, as an error came across the court and long of the baseline. Dodin was still on her tail as the two reached the business end of the set.

In the ninth, Ostapenko locked the hold of serve to put Dodin on the hot seat to answer. The Latvian fired back forehand winners to reach match point, leading her to victory on her second attempt. A forehand winner put a cap on a quick day for the 12th seed, who secured a spot in the second round in 1 hour and 10 minutes.