In a surprising turn of events at the 2023 US Open, Jelena Ostapenko’s own words came back to haunt her as she faced off against the rising American star, Coco Gauff. Gauff dominated the match, to reach her first-ever US Open semi-final in just 68 minutes demolishing Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2.
Jelena’s performance was marred by a cascade of unforced errors, a stark contrast to her confident words from a previous match where she had criticized Iga Swiatek’s ability to handle big hitters. Coco retrieved the balls back with pace, authority, and consistency. Ostapenko ended with 36 unforced errors and she had won only a total of 35 points in the match.
Being the most highly anticipated match-up of the day, it was scheduled for the afternoon on Tuesday rather than in the feature evening slot. Afterward, she played the blame game by pointing out that her American opponent got a better schedule. “I think it was better for her the schedule, because obviously she played much earlier the day I played night session,” she said.
Jelena Ostapenko disappointed with scheduling for Coco Gauff match:
“I felt like I didn’t recover from that night. I got back to the hotel around 2 a.m.. When you go to sleep at 5 or 6 a.m. you need a few days just to recover.. If I play a late night session, in 1 day I have to… pic.twitter.com/sTxwfkXz6r
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
Fans take a dig at Ostapenko
Fans were quick to make a swipe at Ostapenko’s lame excuse since Coco Gauff even played doubles matches in between as Ostapenko had the entire day of rest on Monday. One fan said:
Lol okay whatever Jelena. You are great for the sport but this complaint is going to have zero takers. First of all today is Tuesday; you got back to the hotel at 2am on Monday morning and went to sleep at 6am Monday morning and had no scheduled matches for the day, unlike Coco
— Chewy Yorkie (@ChewyYorkie) September 5, 2023
In her previous match with Swiatek, Ostapenko said that Swiatek didn’t like playing big hitters, “I think the main thing is she doesn’t really like to play big hitters. She likes to have some time. When I play fast, aggressive, & powerful, she’s a little bit in trouble.” It appeared that Ostapenko’s words against Swiatek in her previous match had appeared to haunt her own game. A tennis enthusiast was quick to point this out on social media.
Sounds like Ostapenko can’t handle big hitters either. pic.twitter.com/fmjx0gQbTT
— StingStungMe (@stingstungme) September 5, 2023
For Jelena Ostapenko, her own words had come back to haunt her, reminding her that actions on the court often speak louder than words. In contrast, Coco Gauff’s resolute performance spoke volumes, propelling the American star into her first US Open semi-finals.
Coco Gauff responded to Jelena Ostapenko’s complains
As Coco Gauff clinched a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals of 2023 US Open, her words resonated with a blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned wisdom. Gauff’s journey into the business end of the Slam isn’t merely about matches won but a testament to her evolving mindset and her grasp on the intricacies of tennis at the highest level.
Reflecting after her win, Gauff stated, “Even though the semifinals, [in] theory, if you want to win, there’s two matches left, you can’t think like that… I’m still in the mindset that I’m in the beginning.” Her perspective offered a glimpse into the mental fortitude that separated champions from mere contenders.
Coco Gauff was asked about Jelena Ostapenko being unhappy with the scheduling at US Open:
“Yeah, it’s definitely a valid thing. I remember in Montreal I had to play Marketa & we finished around 11. I played the next day at 1 or 2.. I do think with the day in between it helps a… pic.twitter.com/wDshFFrbuc
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023
Discussing the challenges of scheduling and recovery, Gauff gracefully responded to Ostapenko’s post-match statement, saying, “Yeah, it’s definitely a valid thing… Honestly yesterday was a concern of mine when I found out I was playing 1st.. I definitely can understand that point of view for sure.” Gauff revealed that she mentally conquered the challenge of playing back-to-back matches the previous day.
Gauff’s insights reveal the demanding nature of Grand Slam tournaments and the need for players to adapt to the schedule and persevere if they must be in contention to win Majors. It’s the mindset, resilience, and flexibility to play in difficult situations that truly propel champions to Grand Slam glory.
