Categories: LinzTop StoryWTA

Ostapenko wraps up victory in the midnight hour

The top three seeds have all reached the Friday quarter-finals of the WTA Linz event, with No. 1 Jelena Ostapenko concluding a post-midnight finish to book her spot..

The Latvian winner of last month’s Adelaide title got past Danish teen Clara Tauson 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7).

“I wasn’t in my best shape, I only arrived from Australia on Wednesday,” the world No.12 winner and 2019 finalist here said.  “But I’m very proud that I fought to the last point.” 

With second seed  Ekaterina Alexandrova already in place, holder and fifth-seeded Anastasia Potapova lined up as her opposition through a 2-6, 7-6 (9), 7-5 win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Potapova  had a built-in security blanket on hand in the form of her pet poodle Baby who joined her at her chair during changeovers.

Croat Donna Vekic, seeded third and playing at her seventh Linz edition, put out Australian Open semi-finalist Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-1, with the Ukrainian badly affected by jet lag after arriving from Melbourne.

“It wasn’t as easy as the result suggests,” the winner said, “There were a lot of very close games.”

 Added Yastremska: “I’m pretty drained and tired, I’ve played a lot in the last few weeks.

“Today, I really had no energy left, I left everything on the court. This year has gone really well for me so far, but now I really need a break.” 

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Zverev cuts off Chilean charge in Rome

Alexander Zverev woke up after crashing in the opening set to end the upset hopes…

10 hours ago

Djoko in the dumps; vents to Kyrgios

Novak Djokovic admits he's running low on tennis enthusiasm as the deflated No.1 struggles through one…

10 hours ago

Ongoing scheduling money-grab draws fire from Tsitsipas

The current debacle of extending Masters 1000 events from a week to nearly two has…

15 hours ago

RG cops heat for killing Thiem wild card dream

Roland Garros bosses have been roasted on social media and elsewhere in tennis after refusing to…

15 hours ago

Unorthodox Murray dips into his pocket in racquet search

Andy Murray has gone against the grain by putting his hand into his pocket to…

15 hours ago

Swiatek on the cusp of another record

Iga Swiatek stands one Saturday win away from completing the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double after…

1 day ago