Jelena Ostapenko retires after first set tiebreak giving Giorgi the W

Camila Giorgi celebrates a point during her quarterfinal match with Jelena Ostapenko at the Rothesay International. 

Jelena Ostapenko felt her energy run out at the Rothesay International Thursday. Trying her best to play a full match against Camila Giorgi, the 25-year-old slipped up in the tiebreak, and lost the set to retire, handing the Italian a ticket to the semifinal on Court One. It was a 71-minute battle at Devonshire Park, that saw a former champion call it quits.

The Latvian remained focused on playing as much grass tennis as possible and continued her success. Since her title win at Birmingham, Ostapenko holds a seven-match winning streak and two so far in Eastbourne. Her victories against Barbora Strycova and Heather Dart were in straight sets, setting up for a fourth duel against Giorgi. The Italian didn’t do well in Birmingham last week, losing in a thriller against Venus Williams. After wins against Heather Watson and Ons Jabeur, the 31-year-old looked to get her first win against the world number 17 on grass. Both played a total of 17 grass quarterfinals in their careers, with one of them destined to make the semis.

Ostapenko made a statement in the opening game, with a late push for break points. Giorgi forced deuce on serve, but the following point went to the Latvian. The 25-year-old avoided the same threat from the Italian, forcing deuce but holding the AD point. With a two-game lead, Ostapenko watched Giorgi serve to love in the third to get on the board. She found her footing going forward, sitting a game down of the Latvian after five games and two service holds.

The 31-year-old challenged Ostapenko on her serve in the sixth. Despite two break point chances on deuce, the Latvian held serve to stay ahead on the score. Giorgi found her footing in her second shutout of the set, biding her time to achieve a change in control. The 25-year-old sped through points, but she suffered a double fault that opened the door for Giorgi. The Italian threatened on deuce, attacking her opponent’s first serve.

After seven deuces and four break points, Giorgi captured the break to level the score. She failed to back up the break in the ninth, watching Ostapenko speed through on defense to jump back out. The Italian scored the double for a five-all situation, leading the two to the brink of the set. The fourth consecutive break of serve went the way of Ostapenko, who took advantage of Giorgi’s struggles on the serve. The door was open for her to serve out the set or face a tiebreak.

The Italian notched her third shutout to send them the distance, all while Ostapenko called for the physio due to an illness. After having a blood pressure check and a snack, the Latvian returned to action. The two split the opening four points before Ostapenko took the next three. Giorgi played some extra balls to even up at five-all, but a tough return gave the Latvian set point. The Italian saved one on a forced error, only to see a safe point bring up a second chance for her opponent. A long ball killed another for Ostapenko, but an ace brought up her third opportunity.

Giorgi matched an ace to make it eight-all, then tallied a second to gain her first set point. A return that landed behind the baseline was the final point played by Ostapenko, who made it clear her time on the court was done.

Jelena Ostapenko picks up second career grass court title in Birmingham

Jelena Ostapenko wins the Rothesay Classic Championship in her straight sets victory over Barbora Krejcikova in Birmingham.

Jelena Ostapenko was champion at the Rothesay Classic Sunday. The Latvian clinched her first singles title of the year and sixth of her career, ending a 16-month wait for the championship. Barbora Krejcikova gave it her all in the first set but fell in a 7-6(8), 6-4 result on Ann Jones Center Court at the Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club. The 25-year-old now had titles in both singles and doubles events at the venue.

The two former champions of Roland Garros faced off in their seventh chapter and, first to occur on grass. The Czech’s run in singles play on grass hasn’t gone as well as her doubles play, but having not lost a set to this point, put her on the path of winning her fourth title of the season. The Latvian went the distance in all four matches in Birmingham, defeating Anastasia Potopova in the semifinal. Playing with an injury to the calf gave the number one seed a leg up, but the second seed wouldn’t give up her chance for a maiden title this year.

Both players opened the match with successive holds of serve, with Ostapenko ramping it up after a second shutout. Krejcikova continued to hold her end in the fourth, but the second seed went for another shutout. She finally gave the Czech a point on a shot into the net and put her to deuce on a double fault. Ostapenko turned her problems around, getting the serve done on the first AD point.

Krejcikova held steady in the sixth, drawing the score level after holding the Latvian from a breakpoint. The second seed felt the pressure in the seventh but refused to give up her service holds. After nine games, neither player gave an inch of leverage, making the business end of the set tense. Krejcikova held the second seed to a point, sending the players to the distance. They held the next two games before the tiebreak, that still saw each of them holding points from their serve.

It all changed on the sixth point when Ostapenko scored the minibreak to lead 4-2. The Czech got one to level back but gave the lead back on the following point. The Latvian scored an important mini-break to give her two set points. The Czech delivered a backhander that came back tough for the second seed to keep in. On her second set point, Ostapenko erred into the net to keep Krejcikova in the competition.

On the 15th point, Krejcikova got into position to play for the set only to see Ostapenko even the score at eight-all. The 25-year-old fired a winner to gain her fourth set point and took the victory on an error from Krejcikova, who sent one into the net. It was a 58-minute battle that saw three break points through 12 games and no loss of serve. The tiebreak went 18 points, with five minibreaks, that assisted in Ostapenko’s victory. "It was the key moment," said Ostapenko about the big push for the lead. "I was really close from 5-1 to 5-4, and I managed somehow and really happy about it."

The 25-year-old rolled into the second, scoring the first break of the match against Krejcikova. She went on to back it up on serve to gain a short buffer until the top seed cut it in half. Ostapenko regained the margin in the fourth and hunted down the double break in the fifth. Krejcikova sent a long ball behind the baseline that gave her the biggest lead of the day by either of them.

The second seed played well at the net to start the sixth game, showing relentless measure to get into position and take it all. She allowed Krejcikova two points before a wide return put her up 5-1. The 27-year-old was under pressure, dealing with intense winners from her opponent, who played for the championship. The two went to deuce, making the game highly competitive for Krejcikova to contain. Errors from Ostapenko made that possible for the top seed, but struggles for Czech got her into trouble after a double fault.

After five breaks, the number one seed held her ground against Ostapenko, notching a second win. The Latvian served for the title in the eighth game, giving up the first two points to Krejcikova on shots into the net. Ostapenko notched her first point on a cross-court winner, but Krejcikova answered with a return winner that set her up to break in the match. A momentum swing occurred for the Czech, who held strong in the ninth, sitting a game down from leveling the set.

Ostapenko was back on serve for the title, but errors were costly for the 25-year-old. She managed to contain them, watching Krejcikova deliver the free points to the second seed. The Latvian scored another point from the Czech before getting it done on a winner that ended her journey after 1 hour and 50 minutes. 

It was the first match Ostapenko played in straight sets and one that she will be pleased with. She wont get time to relax with a week before Wimbledon but will celebrate another success on grass. 

Jelena Ostapenko wins a spot in Birmingham semifinal after three set battle

Jelena Ostapenko celebrates a big victory against Magdalena Frech at the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham, England. 

Magdalena Frech was cut short of a defining moment at the Rothesay Classic Friday. Jelena Ostapenko dug in through an injury to stay confident and take the victory in three sets against the Polish qualifier in a 4-6 7-5, 6-2 result on Ann Jones Center Court at the Edgbaston Priory Club. The Latvian was proficient on the first serve, which assisted in her being down, but not out.

The second seed faced heavy challenges against tennis veteran Venus Williams Thursday. The American went through the motions of what Ostapenko brought to the court, stamping her place in the second set to send them the distance. Coming back from 0-3 in the third, the Latvian took control and won six straight to close out the day. Frech played a long one against Sorana Cirstea, defeating the eighth seed in three sets. The qualifier was on a run of good times on the grass, setting herself up to be in the Top 60 if she makes the semifinal.

The opening game was a challenge for the second seed, with double faults causing her trouble. It handed Frech chances to breakpoints when she forced deuce. Ostapenko stopped the threats early but couldn’t lock down the AD point. After five breaks and three attempts, the 25-year-old closed out her service. Frech kept her service game shorter, despite going to deuce where it lasted a point.

Ostapenko managed to shake off the rush and score a serve to love in the third. She went for the chance to add a break herself, but the Polish qualifier stopped two. Frech assured herself to stay tight on the score and wait for her chance to break later when it would count. Ostapenko added further consistency to her offense, keeping the games short and maintaining her lead in the set.

Through eight games of service, all was well on both sides after Frech pulled off a shutout of the second seed. She went for broke, gaining three breakpoints to deny Ostapenko in the ninth. She put everything into her serve for the set, playing 11 points where she had three opportunities, getting it done in 45 minutes. It was a shock for many, who expected the second seed to run one way, but the unforced errors and double faults proved costly.

The second set was in the hands of Frech, who started things with a break of the second seed. The Polish qualifier consolidated the service in the second and tied in the double break for a 3-0 lead. Ostapenko called for the physio and had her left calf taped up due to pain in the area. In the fourth, it was apparent that the injury was troubling her performance against Frech, who went on to take a fourth victory.

The Latvian managed to push the brakes and hold serve in the set in the fifth. She called for the trainer a second time, but there was little they could do to alleviate the pain. Ostapenko took a different path in the situation and from 0-40 down, came back to break Frech for a second victory. Consolidating the efforts was in the cards for the 25-year-old, who fought back to sit a game down of leveling the score.

The second seed continued her march and achieved the double break to come back from such a wide deficit. Getting the lead did not prove easy, but despite the fight from Frech, Ostapenko managed to cut off breakpoints for the Polish qualifier and lead 5-4. Frech served to stay alive in the set, holding Ostapenko to a point to stop the winning streak. The Latvian controlled the 11th and went for it all in the 12th, dominating with her return game to take the second in 61 minutes. Though her serve percentage was lower than the opening set, she committed two double faults and limited the errors. Finding consistency allowed her to have a chance to do well in the decider.

She opened the final set with a second shutout of Frech, before the qualifier got a win on the board. It was still in Ostapenko’s hands as she held serve in the third, waiting for her time to make a difference in the pace. After four holds of serve, the Latvian went for the push in the fifth to secure the service and get into Frech’s. The second seed flew through the sixth, taking four straight after the Polish qualifier notched a point.

Ostapenko consolidated the break and had a three-game buffer to play for the match on Frech’s serve in the eighth. Frech felt the pressure and made errors that handed the victory to Ostapenko after 2 hours and 19 minutes. “I’m just really happy with myself that I was fighting, and it was a completely different game from the day before,” said Ostapenko. She’ll await the winner between Heather Dart and Anastasia Potapova for Saturday’s semifinal.

Aryna Sabalenka holds Svitolina in straight sets at French Open

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates a point won during her quartefinal with Elina Svitolina at the French Open.

Aryna Sabalenka used her big forehand to remain a leg up at the French Open Tuesday. The second seed delivered big shots at Elina Svitolina, who struggled to bring the fire needed to douse her opponent in a 6-4, 6-4 result on Philippe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros. The 20-game battle of the quarterfinal left the 25-year-old to dictate the late stages of each set and enter into the semifinal.

The two played twice before, with Svitolina carrying their lone match on clay. Both came into the fourth round in a clash of conflict outside the sport. The Ukrainian picked up plenty of support from the fans after dispatching Blinkova and Kasatkina. In a comeback that has increased her match streak to eight, the 28-year-old wanted to beat the reigning world number two.

Sabalenka hadn’t dropped a set in her first three matches, gaining her best position in a major she has little success. With a shot at being world number one by the end of the week, the 25-year-old knew she had support but also a heavy task against a large contingency. Both had experience on Chatrier, leaving their skills to prove worthy of the quarterfinal.

The two opened the scoring by holding serve against each other through two games. The first threat occurred in the fourth when Sabalenka forced deuce, only to see the Ukrainian hold for the AD point. They continued to hold serve through six games when Svitolina pushed for a chance to break.

The second seed also held for the first AD point, keeping them clear of breaks of serve. After eight straight service games, the world number two suffered errors but overcame the early problems to break Svitolina in the ninth. The 28-year-old put together a smooth service for the set, achieving two set points before the Ukrainian hit a pop fly that landed wide of the tramlines. It was a good set of tennis for the two, but the late change from the second seed gave her the lead after 38 minutes. Svitolina’s second serve had very little impact in the match, winning 33 percent. It was a notion that she relied too much on the primary weapon.  

She started the second stanza by forcing errors from Sabalenka, only to see her strike back with three winners. The Ukrainian laid down two aces in their fight on deuce, but a double fault reeled its head into the offense. The 28-year-old forced another error from the second seed before watching her opponent err in a game that took six and a half minutes. Svitolina achieved the break soon after Sabalenka committed a double fault in the second.

The 25-year-old wanted to get on the board, going for broke in the third on a barrage of winners from her end. It led her to deuce with Svitolina, who suffered two double faults. After three breaks and nearly seven minutes of play, Sabalenka captured the break back. She managed to hold back the Ukrainian on serve in the fourth, despite recording a pair of double faults.

The fifth stood out as highly contested when the second seed fired winners across to her opponent. Svitolina forced deuce on two errors from her opponent, but producing the AD point wasn’t in the cards. Sabalenka notched another winner to get back in place of a break and took the lead after nine minutes. The second seed picked up the pace and quickly took care of the service, allowing Svitolina a point in her quest for the lead. The 28-year-old drew errors out of Sabalenka, clinching the serve in the sixth, but a break was disallowed by the second seed. She rushed through the eighth to sit ahead two games and play against Svitolina.

The Ukrainian served to love in response, preparing to level the score and stay alive in the match. Sabalenka served for the match, giving the first point to Svitolina on an error. The second error was a wide crosscourt but recovered lost ground. The 28-year-old handed Sabalenka a match point, but the net court bounced the ball wide. She won the next point to avoid pressure from Svitolina and achieve victory in 1 hour and 36 minutes.

Elina Svitolina beats Anna Blinkova again to reach fourth round at the French Open

Elina Svitolina celebrates a huge win at the French Open against Anna Blinkova. 

Elina Svitolina went the distance to win a dramatic match at the French Open Friday. In a second meeting against Anna Blinkova, the Ukrainian came back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 on court Simone Mathieu on the grounds of Roland Garros. It marked the first round of 16 for Svitolina since 2020 and a place in week two.

The two met for the second in a week, ever since their battle in the Strasbourg final, which the Ukrainian won. Svitolina dominated their match, and in her first two back at Roland Garros, the 28-year-old brought fire into her game and lit up her opponents. Blinkova had it tough on Philippe-Chatrier coming back from a set and a break down to defeat Caroline Garcia. It took the 24-year-old three hours and eight match points to get it done.

It was the second top-ten win of her career and her best result in a grand slam to date. Svitolina carried a six-match winning streak in France while improving her rank to get into the top 200. With elements of her game in check, the 28-year-old focused on keeping her grip against Blinkova and making the round of 16.

The Strasbourg finalist opened the match with a hold of the Ukrainian, who came out strong with two winners. The 24-year-old responded with a break to love, jumping ahead of her opponent early. Svitolina broke back in the third, but on serve in the fourth, she suffered a double fault. She managed to hold the fourth, but Blinkova anted up on a serve to love during the following game.

The 24-year-old kept up the aggression, all while her opponent’s game dropped on two double faults. Blinkova took the break and consolidated in the seventh, with four winners. Though it was the longest game of the match, she appeared to have more problems than her game on the court. Blinkova coasted the victory on serve for the set, earning free points on Svitolina’s errors to take the first in 35 minutes. “It was not a great first set for me,” said Svitolina. “I was not moving well. I was not playing my best, but I had to fight and try to find my good game.”

Svitolina’s three double faults and 21 total errors made it a near cakewalk for the 24-year-old, who had ten winners to her name and a serve percentage above 60. The underperformance of the Ukrainian’s first serve had her in a tough position to come back a set down. During the set break, the Ukrainian called out to the trainers to get drops put in her eyes due to irritation. When she opened scoring in the second set, the 28-year-old achieved three breakpoints on Blinkova, holding enough to lead the way.

Blinkova’s aggression marched on, getting to the ball in time to strike her next shot. Svitolina managed the challenges, that the 24-year-old brought into the game and notched a break after three breaks. Of the following 11 points played through two games, Svitolina won eight, giving her a 4-0 run over her opponent. The 28-year-old achieved the triple break on Blinkova, only to be denied a chance to shut out the set.

The 24-year-old broke back in the sixth, consolidating her efforts in a second straight victory. Svitolina returned to serve for her second attempt, holding Blinkova to a point before capping the second in 34 minutes on an ace down the T. Svitolina improved the first serve, winning 79 percent, with help from the four aces and 12 winners.

At the start of the third, she challenged the service of Blinkova, getting into breakpoint position on the fifth point. The 24-year-old forced deuce in response, going three breaks before she held. The Ukrainian made quick work of the second, intent on breaking down her opponent with speed play. Svitolina broke her opponent in the third, serving to love on a forehand winner to gain a 3-1 lead.

Blinkova turned the momentum in her favor in the fifth, holding Svitolina to a pair of points, then going for broke in the sixth. She fought on deuce where the two players went two breaks, with Blinkova producing breakpoints. The break leveled the score, and her service hold in the seventh gave her a short winning streak.

The Ukrainian fell behind on serve in the eighth but won the next two points to reach game point. An eighth double fault brought Blinkova back into contention but answered well for the AD point. She served up a solid winner to make it four-all, leaving no comfort room for her opponent in the business end. She put the pressure on Blinkova, who watched the experience tennis star break her apart and earn a chance to win the match on serve.

The 24-year-old stepped up against Svitolina to use her aggressive style and fire winners that the Ukrainian couldn’t get back. It pushed them to the brink, with Blinkova serving in the 11th. Svitolina fired two winners to get out front but erred three times on long balls. Blinkova opened the door on errors from the serve, notching a third to hand the Ukrainian the break back.

Svitolina felt the pressure to serve it out once more in the 12th, missing on critical points by a short margin. Blinkova had a break chance but at the end of a long rally, smashed it high. Svitolina gained match point on a beautiful crosscourt winner but lost it on an error into the net. Her second attempt on a lob near the net fell long of the baseline, keeping Blinkova alive.

The Ukrainian caught a break on an error for her third match point. The 28-year-old made it count after a 21-shot rally, that ended with a well-placed winner, ending the battle in 2 hours and 16 minutes. “I decided I’m just gonna leave everything out there,” Svitolina said after the match. “Just because I was serving for the match against the wind, but in the end, I was extremely happy to finish that backhand down the line, giving it a thousand percent.”  The two played 186 points, with the margin of victory under ten for Svitolina, who was happy to get through a different match-up than last week.

“I was just trying to give my everything. I was not feeling amazing today, time to time, but in the end, playing well under pressure in the third was really special.” She will prepare to face ninth-seeded Daria Kasatkina, who has been raging through her opponents and prepared to give Svitolina a fight to the end.