By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, February 13, 2025
Photograph credit score: Mohamed Farag/Getty
Jeered by some followers, Jelena Ostapenko performed mute-master in Doha.
Fired up by some followers whistling and yelling throughout her serve, Ostapenko silenced each the disruptors and Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-2 charging into her third profession Doha semifinal and a blockbuster showdown vs. three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.
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“Thanks guys for not cheering me as a result of it made me much more motivated,” Ostapenko informed the group in her on-court interview afterward. “I do know some folks had been cheering for me so thanks guys.”
A crowd-sourcing lesson from this match: Make Ostapenko mad and she or he shall be pushed to get even. After closing the win, a pumped up Ostapenko screamed in victory and gave prolonged waves to the group.
“I really feel once you’re taking part in in a stadium when everyone seems to be cheering to your opponent, it’s nice,” Ostapenko mentioned. “It’s superb what she has achieved however you recognize guys you made me indignant and extra motivated, however that is regular.
“I hope you guys loved the match so thanks.”
Ostapenko used the group antipathy as gasoline to fireplace her up in a transfer barely paying homage to the younger Daniil Medvedev, who famously fingered US Open followers throughout his 2019 overcome Feliciano Lopez then trolled booing followers throughout his on-court interview.
“I need all of you to know, once you sleep tonight, I received due to you,” Medvedev informed US Open followers inciting much more boos.
“The extra you do that, the extra I’ll win,” a smiling Medvedev mentioned. “For you guys! Thanks!”
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, John McEnroe, Pancho Gonzalez, Medvedev and Ostapenko are among the many uncommon main champions who may channel crowd antagonism into decisive motion on court docket.
“We hoped he would not get upset,” Rod Laver as soon as mentioned of fellow Corridor of Famer Gonzalez. “It simply made him more durable.”
Although Ostapenko is not any stranger to creating emotional havoc with opponents and even some unruly followers, on this case some followers had been deliberately making an attempt to disrupt her serve.
Deadlocked at 1-all within the second set just a few unruly followers started shouting throughout her ball toss. Ostapenko, who has a behavior of catching tosses even on fully calm days, tried to smile off the disruptors and even provided them a thumbs-up at one level.
Withstanding the screams and jeers, Ostapenko held then instantly broke for 3-1. Ostapenko avenged a 7-6(4), 7-5 loss to Jabeur in Abu Dhabi final week.
World No. 36 Ostapenko will face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in a semifinal showdown of reigning and former Roland Garros champions.
The 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko is 4-0 lifetime vs. Swiatek, together with knocking her out of the 2023 US Open. Three-time champion Swiatek rides a 15-match Doha profitable streak into tomorrow’s semifinals.
“It’s a fairly good steadiness so I hope I can stick with it tomorrow,” mentioned 2016 Doha finalist Ostapenko. “I really feel once I’m taking part in my sport I can truthfully beat many gamers.
“I felt some tournaments had been shut matches and I did not win, however I really feel the onerous work pays off. I’m discovering my sport an increasing number of.”
