SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Tennis Now | Friday, October 6, 2017

Jelena Ostapenko continued to assert her authority in Asia  setting up a French Open final rematch.

The eighth-ranked Ostapenko defeated Sorana Cirstea, 6-4, 6-4, charging into her seventh semifinal of the season in Beijing.

Watch: 5 Revelations From Sharapova's Book

Ostapenko broke Cirstea in her first two service games building a one-set lead.

The Romanian baseliner rallied to even the second set after six games.

Elevating her level of play, Ostapenko scored the crucial break in the seventh game and consolidated for 5-3.

The 20-year-old Latvian closed in 84 minutes, raising her record to 11-1 since her US Open third-round loss to Daria Kastakina.

The victory vaults Ostapenko into a rematch of the Roland Garros final against Simona Halep.

The second-ranked Halep demolished Kastakina, 6-2, 6-1, one round after thrashing Maria Sharapova, 6-2, 6-2.



Staring down a one-set, 0-3 deficit in the French Open final, Ostapenko punished 54 winners roaring through 12 of the final 16 games hitting Halep right off the court, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, to capture her first career championship at Roland Garros.

“She's a great player,” Ostapenko said of Halep. “If I play my best and I stay aggressive tomorrow and I am consistent, I think everything can happen. I have nothing to lose. I think Simona will be the favorite because she's higher ranked.”

Ostapenko, who started the Asian swing winning Seoul, is playing for her third career title.

“I'm already in semifinal, third week in a row playing pretty good here in Asia,” Ostapenko said. “I'm just going to go out there and try to show my best.”

In an all-Czech quarterfinal, Petra Kvitova beat Barbora Strycova, 6-3, 6-4. Kvitova overcame 11 double faults winning 84 percent of first-serve points in a 90-minute victory. 



The two-time Wimbledon champion advanced to her first semifinal since she won Birmingham in June in just her second tournament back after undergoing a four-hour surgery on her left hand in December following a stabbing attack in a horrific home invasion.

The 12th-seeded Kvitova will play Wuhan champion Caroline Garcia for a place in the final.

Garcia fought off a match point subduing third-seeded Elina Svitolina, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (8), in a gripping three hour, 21-minute thriller.

The Frenchwoman drilled a pair of successive aces in the tie break and belted a backhand down the line to save the match point for 6-all. Firing her 60th winner of the match, a forehand down the line, Garcia posted her ninth consecutive victory.

Kvitova has won three of five meetings with Garcia, including a 6-0, 6-4, sweep at the US Open last month. 

 

Latest News