World No. 13 Yelena Ostapenko admits that she is her “worst enemy” in some matches but she is working on managing her emotions better. Ostapenko, a former world No. 5, got off to a good start to the 2022 season when she reached the semi-finals of St.
Petersburg and won Dubai last week. “Honestly in some matches I feel like I’m not fighting with the players but against myself. Sometimes when I get too emotional I play against myself which I’m working on and I should get rid of it” , Ostapenko told the WTA website.
“But I feel like I’m the toughest opponent myself. Not in all matches, but in most of them. Because even when it’s close, I feel like I still have a lot of potential and I have the reserves, that I can use when playing this match.
I’m not always 100%, sometimes I’m 50% or 60% and I still win. But when I’m at 100%, the players can get in trouble.”
Ostapenko is having a great week in Doha
Ostapenko’s run to the title in Dubai included victories over four Grand Slam champions – Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova.
Ostapenko mentioned her loss at the Australian Open in the third round as an example of what happens when she is passive. “Yeah, I think I tried – even at the Australian Open in the third round – I tried to be more accurate and just put the ball in play, which I shouldn’t have.
I should be making my shots and playing my aggressive game. I felt that sometimes I had to be even more aggressive,” explained Ostapenko. “I just tried not to give too many free points.
I can still do that, but play aggressively. But if I step back a little, it’s easier for the opponent. If I keep winning in the score I should just play aggressively like I played when the score was my way. Keep playing like this, don’t step back or play more closely.” Photo credit: AFP
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