Defending Champion Jelena Ostapenko Beaten in First Round of Roland Garros
(May 27, 2018) Defending Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko lost in the first round on Sunday 7-5, 6-3 to Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova on Court Philippe Chatrier. The world No. 67 Kozlova earned her first win over a Top 30 player with the victory over the fifth seed from Latvia.
“It feels great,” Kozlova said in press. “As I said on the court, that I didn’t expect anything from the match. I just went to enjoy every moment on the court because, before, I was not sure if I will be able to play in French Open.”
“So I was just happy to be on court, back on court, and compete. So it was very important for me. And, in the end, the result comes up and it’s just amazing.”
Two months ago, Kozlova didn’t know if she’d be able to play in Paris.
“I got injured in Indian Wells and I get hurt in the knee,” she said. “And after that, I pull out from Miami and went back to Europe to check everything, like, how is it, bad or not. Because, actually, there was a chance maybe that I would have to go for the surgery. But luckily I met very good physios and professionals, and I went for rehab to Tenerife, and they did a great job. And after two months, I come back, and I already played last week. “So we avoid the surgery. That was the most important thing. And, yeah, I’m just happy to be here again.”
Ostapenko had 48 unforced errors during the match, 13 double faults, with just 22 winners.
“I think it was terrible day at the office today for me,” said Ostapenko. “I mean, in general I played maybe like 20% of what I can play.
“Made like 50 unforced errors and so many double faults. Like couldn’t serve today. Everything together just brought me really bad result.”
“After Rome I was injured so I couldn’t really prepare that well for this tournament, and I just had couple of practices which were not bad. But, yeah, in general, I wasn’t feeling 100% today.”
Ostapenko became just the sixth defending women’s champion to lose in the first round, the first since 2004 winner Anastasia Myskina lost her first round match to Maria Sanchez Lorenzo in 2005.
More to follow….
