Ostapenko forgets the score on the way to a win

Former champion Jelena Ostapenko momentarily lost track of time but came to her senses in time to complete a 5-7, 6-2 6-3 comeback win in Monday’s start at the WTA Dubai event.

The 2022 tournament champion in the Gulf overcame China’s Wang Xinyu after two hours of battle.

The Latvia winner admitted her match concentration momentarily went walkabout in the closing stages:

“I thought the score was 5-2, and when it was 6-3, I was like, ‘What’s happening?’,” the 2017 Roland Garros champion said.

“It’s the first time I miscounted the score in my life, maybe since juniors. I was ready to play more, and the match was already over!”

Ostapenko, who improved to 15-3 since January, is seeking to add a third title this season to those she already owns in 2024 from Adelaide and Linz; she fought past 11 aces off her 64th-ranked opponent’s racquet.

The European won 16 of the last 20 points to earn the win and ended with 23 winners to 13 for Wang.

Other first-round winners at the Aviation club included 2015 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, who extended her current hot streak to 10 straight matches with a win over Chinese wild card Zhang Shuai 6-3, 7-5.

The Czech owns that series 9-0.