2020 Doha
2 hours does
The 2016 finalist Jelena Ostapenko took two and a half hours to overcome a strong effort by the qualifier Jil Teichmann and move on to the second round of the Qatar Total Open 2020.
Of WTA staff
Doha, Qatar – Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia survived a late night thriiler that ended well past midnight, overcoming an energetic effort by Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann and winning 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, to move on to the second round of the Qatar Total Open 2020.
“It wasn’t an easy game,” said Ostapenko after the game. “It was a bit like a roller coaster.”
The Ostapenko number 42 in the world, which reached the final in its Doha debut in 2016, needed two hours and 30 minutes to repress the challenge of the 68th ranked Teichmann, who won his first two single titles last season WTA on clay courts.
In the first encounter between the two players, the former Top 5 Ostapenko was the aggressor, hitting 47 winners against Teichmann’s 21st. Ostapenko also had 33 unforced errors compared to Teichmann, but, however, the Latvian was able to convert both of his breaking points in the third set to claim victory.
“This year has been difficult, I haven’t played too many games, so I was just trying to play, but it didn’t go all the time, “continued Ostapenko.
“I was making many unforced errors, but I was still trying to play aggressively and find my game,” said Ostapenko. “I think the main thing is that I was fighting to the end, and I managed to win the game even though I didn’t play my best.”
The game started with four consecutive service interruptions, before Teichmann was able to put his feet under his first serve, keeping in love with a 3-2 lead. Ostapenko will follow, but not without difficulty, as he must save a breakpoint before getting his first suspension of service for 3-3.
Ostapenko then paused once again, converting his third breakpoint from an extended game with a direct winner along the line. However, the Latvian returned the pause on the return, double fault at the breaking point in the next game, and the fighters again found themselves at level 4-4.
But Ostapenko’s game of power would come to the end of the set, as he gained a crucial 6-5 break by forcing a mistake with his backhand. The Latvian took advantage of that advantage and ran with it, zipping at the triple set point in the next game. Ostapenko then converted his first opportunity, eliminating a tremendous all-out rally with another winning straight.
The precursor outposts led Ostapenko to an early break in the second set, taking a 2-1 lead. However, the Swiss player fired a backward winner at the breakpoint in the next game to level the set at 2-2 and Teichmann started a hot streak from there.
Teichman mixed up in an exceptional rally defense by mixing the winners for the rest of the set, gaining another break and a 4-2 lead in the process. After an ace in possession of 5-2, Teichmann attempted to triple the set point in the next game, and on his second chance, the Swiss blew up another winner of the return to conquer a fifth consecutive game, and with it the second series.
Ostapenko broke Teichmann in the opening game of the decision maker, but the Swiss rejected three games later to tie the set 2-2. The pair remained head-to-head for most of the duration, with the closest game being Ostapenko’s hold 3-3, where he saved a breakpoint before ending the four-player game with a fierce right winner.
In the end, another stoppage occurred on 5-5, where powerful Latvian twists forced Teichmann’s brief mistake on the verge of breaking, giving Ostapenko the critical break and the chance to serve for the game.
Two double services and a head rally pulled Ostapenko to double the meeting point, and the 2017 Roland Garros champion needed only one, as strong service was long returned to give Ostapenko victory after a match. marathon with its exceptional opponent.
“Especially in the third set, I was playing more aggressively and I wasn’t afraid to go shoot at decisive moments,” said Ostapenko. “I think it helped me win the game.”
Ostapenko will now face Petra Martic’s seed 10 from Croatia or Barbora Strycova from the Czech Republic in the second round of the 5-tier Premier event.
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