Jelena Ostapnko called Emma Raducanu “a great player” after destroying Emma Raducanu in Stuttgart.
In a battle between two Grand Slam champions, Ostapenko gave no chance to Raducanu as she saw off the Briton 6-2 6-1 in the Stuttgart first round.
After the match, Ostapenko said she “played really well and did not give Raducanu any chances.”
“I think I played really well & didn’t give her many chances. I knew of course she’s a great player & it would be a tough match. I’m always ready for a battle. It’s great to be back in Stuttgart. It’s a really nice atmosphere here,” Ostapenko said, via The Tennis Letter.
Jelena Ostapenko on beating Emma Raducanu: “I think I played really well & didn’t give her many chances. I knew of course she’s a great player & it would be a tough match. I’m always ready for a battle. It’s great to be back in Stuttgart. It’s a really nice atmosphere here.” pic.twitter.com/1z67Jl21VE
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 18, 2023
How Ostapenko dismantled Raducanu?
Raducanu served out the first game of the match, before Ostapenko claimed back-to-back breaks in the third and fifth games to open a comfortable 5-1 lead in the first set.
Raducanu ended Ostapenko’s run of five consecutive games won by serving out the seventh game.
However, it didn’t change much as Ostapenko routinely served out for the first set in the eighth game.
The second set was pretty much the replay of the first set – Raducanu served out the first game of the set before Ostapenko absolutely dominated the rest of the set.
Ostapenko claimed breaks in the third, fifth and seventh games en route to winning six games in a row and completing a two-set win.
In her next match, Ostapenko will play against third-seeded Ons Jabeur.
After easily beating Raducanu, Ostapenko revealed her way of handling fear.
“Of course it’s not easy because obviously when you go on court you want to win & play well & enjoy. But sometimes there are tough matches & sometimes when you want to win a lot, you don’t play as good as when you don’t think so much,” Ostapenko said.
Jelena Ostapenko on how to manage fear: “Of course it’s not easy bc obviously when you go on court you want to win & play well & enjoy. But sometimes there are tough matches & sometimes when you want to win a lot, you don’t play as good as when you don’t think so much.” pic.twitter.com/CnS4diaDQC
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 18, 2023
It remains to be seen if Ostapenko can now also beat Jabeur and progress into the Stuttgart quarterfinal.