Tennis Panorama Archives

Archives of TennisPanorama.com 2008-2013

TennisPanorama.com 2008-2013
  • Home
  • Tennis Panorama
You are here: Home / Features / Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko Upsets No. 3 Simona Halep to Win Roland Garros for First Major Title

Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko Upsets No. 3 Simona Halep to Win Roland Garros for First Major Title

June 10, 2017 By Tennis Panorama News

Jelena Ostapenko

 

(June 10, 2017) Latvia’s Jelena Ostpenko became the first unseeded woman to win the French Open since 1933 when she rallied from 6-4, 3-0 down to defeat No. 3 seed and 2014 finalist Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Not only was this the Latvian’s first major, but first title on the tour level.

 

She denied the Romanian both a major and the No. 1 ranking. Had Halep won, she would have moved up to No. 1 in the world.

“I still can’t believe I won,” the 20-year-old Ostapenko said on court after the win. “It was always my dream, when I was a child I was watching players here. I’m just so happy. I’ve just enjoyed it so much. I have no words.”

Halep looked as though she was on her way to her first major leading 6-4, 3-0 with points for 4-0.  Ostapenko held her nerve and won six out of the next seven games to level the match.

Ostapenko had to fight back again in the third set, from 1-3 down, winning the next five games.

Luck was on the Latvian’s side when holding for a 5-3 lead in the third, she hit a backhand that ticked the top of the net, which appeared to be going out but fell in on Halep’s side of the net.

“I’m really happy to win here,” Ostapenko said after the match. “I think I still cannot believe it, because it was my dream and now it came true.

“I think I’m going to only understand in maybe couple of days or couple of weeks.”

This is only Ostapenko’s eight major tournament that she’s played in.

“All the credit for what you’ve done,” Halep said to Ostapenko during the trophy presentation. It’s an amazing thing. Enjoy, be happy, and keep it going, because you’re like a kid.”

A clearly disappointed Halep said she was sick to her stomach with emotion and that maybe she was not ready to win the title.

“It’s a tough moment for me, but it’s gonna go away, I hope, with time. I will keep working, because I really want to repeat what I have done this tournament. We will see what is gonna be.”

 

Embed from Getty Images

“I knew I’m already in the final and I’m playing such a great player like Simona,” noted Ostapenko. “I was losing 6-4, 3-0, and then in my mind I was just like, ‘I’m just going to enjoy the match, and I will try to fight until the last point.’

“And then I stayed aggressive and the match turned my way.”

Ostapenko came into the tournament ranked No. 47, she leaves with the No. 12 ranking going into grass court season. Halep moves up to No. 2 in the world.

 

 

“I really enjoy to play here. It’s a really great time, I really love to be he.re”

Jelena Ostapenko delivers her Grand Slam speech. #RG17 pic.twitter.com/L3FVK32imd

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 10, 2017

Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: 2017 French Open, 2017 Roland Garros, French Open, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova, Roland Garros, Schedule of Play, Simona Halep, tennis, Tennis Panorama News, Timea Bacsinszky

Archives

  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • March 2009
  • December 2008

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in