Jelena Ostapenko faces a tough challenge. After a tough third-round exit at the French Open just last month, she returns to the grass court season with renewed energy. She successfully took down her first opponent, Sonay Kartal, at the Eastbourne Open to reach the Round of 16. But while she stormed to an impressive first-set victory against Alexandra Eala, Ostapenko couldn’t hold on for long.

On Wednesday, the fourth-seeded player faced rising star Eala in a dramatic Eastbourne second-round match. Ostapenko raced through the first set, 6-0, looking like the clear favorite. But Eala dug deep and fought back hard, forcing a third set after an hour and 37 minutes of intense, unpredictable tennis. Just as Eala grabbed a 2-0 lead in the decider, Ostapenko twisted her ankle trying to break back. She played through the pain and closed the gap to 3-2, but ultimately retired due to injury.

The Tennis Channel on X summed it up: “An ankle injury forces Jelena Ostapenko to retire from her Eastbourne second round, sending Alex Eala into the quarterfinals.” With Wimbledon just around the corner, Ostapenko’s sudden exit left fans wondering about her fitness. She showed no obvious signs of discomfort before pulling out. “Wishing Jelena a speedy recovery for Wimbledon 🤕”

The match ended with a 0-6, 6-2, 3-2 victory for Eala. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Ostapenko, who won the Eastbourne title back in 2021 and came close to a second title the next year. As for Eala, it was the second time she bested Ostapenko this season after beating the Latvian in straight sets at the Miami Open. Will Ostapenko recover in time before she takes on the courts of Wimbledon? We’ll just have to wait and watch.

Jelena Ostapenko has just one title to her name this season – the Stuttgart Open after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Although her season hasn’t quite lit up just yet, her prowess against top players like Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek at the same tournament, has infused her with confidence. She even admitted that she might be unbeatable.

Jelena Ostapenko exudes confidence for the season

Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek? It’s not your typical tennis rivalry—it’s the kind where the underdog keeps pulling off the impossible. When they clashed for the sixth time at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, all eyes were on whether Swiatek could finally crack Ostapenko’s code—especially on clay, her own turf. Instead, Ostapenko made it six straight, stunning everyone and reminding the crowd, “She’s a great clay-court player, but I won [Roland Garros], so I can say the same thing for myself.”

Her confidence was on full display as she rolled into the semifinals, facing Ekaterina Alexandrova with their head-to-head locked at five apiece. Alexandrova had owned their clay battles before, but this time Ostapenko flipped the script, cruising to a 6-4, 6-4 win with just one service hiccup. The Latvian was unstoppable, declaring, “I always knew my game was there. I always believed in myself, and that’s the most important thing. I believe I can beat everyone.”

Now, with Stuttgart behind her and an injury to shake off, Jelena Ostapenko’s Wimbledon hopes are hotter than ever. She’s been a regular in the second week at SW19, reaching the quarterfinals last year and in 2017, and even making the semis in 2018. Will she go further this time around? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!