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Reuters

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Reuters

Jelena Ostapenko has had a mixed start to the 2022 season. The former French Open champion began her season at the Sydney Tennis Classic. However, she lost in the opening round to Paula Badosa of Spain. Further, at the Australian Open, she could not proceed beyond the third round, losing to the fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova.

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However, she managed a semifinals finish at her next tournament, the St. Petersburg Open. She is currently playing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and is into the quarterfinals after a big win over Poland’s Iga Swiatek. But the Latvian wasn’t happy with a particular incident during her match against the 20-year-old and has opened up about the same.

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Jelena Ostapenko felt angry after Iga Swiatek’s fans clapped at her double-faults

After the match, the 24-year-old made her displeasure known. She was asked about the atmosphere and what she made of the fans.

Jelena replied, “I think it’s really nice, the fans there. The Polish people were a little bit not too nice because, like, clapping for double-faults. I don’t think it’s the right way. It’s not a football match, it’s a tennis match at the end.”

Further, she added, “When she (Iga Swiatek) was making double-faults, nobody was clapping because people know how to behave. Some of them, of course, they were behaving not the way they should.”

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The interviewer further asked Jelena if that kind of treatment from a crowd fuels her to perform better. The former World No. 5 said, “Yeah, of course. I really wanted to win. I mean, but in general I think fans should not behave on a tennis court the same as they’re behaving on a soccer match.”

Jelena Ostapenko will face Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Her match is currently underway, and she has lost the opening set 7-5 and won the second set with the same scoreline.

What do you make of her comments about the fans at the match? Let us know in the comments below.

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Vatsal Shah

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Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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