Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko mentioned the partisan followers on the Qatar Open have been disrespectful for jeering her all through her quarterfinal match, as she eased to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ons Jabeur.
The 27-year-old Latvian’s relentless tempo and aggressive ball-striking proved an excessive amount of for the Tunisian. Ostapenko will meet three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in Friday’s semifinal, after Swiatek’s 6-2, 7-5 win over Elena Rybakina on Thursday.
Ostapenko mentioned the hostile crowd fuelled her motivation as she avenged her first-round loss to Jabeur on the Abu Dhabi Open final week, firing 4 aces and breaking her opponent 5 occasions whereas Jabeur managed only one break within the opening set.
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“I do know Ons is their favorite, I respect that, however, you recognize, between serves, shouting and whistling and coughing, I believe it’s a bit of bit disrespectful, not solely to me, if this occurs to some other participant I believe they need to be taken care of,” Ostapenko mentioned within the post-match press convention.
“I respect Ons, I respect the group, and I really feel like some moments they have been even motivating me higher, like increasingly more, and I used to be enjoying even higher, so I form of prefer it, you recognize.”
Addressing the group on court docket after her win she mentioned: “It’s nice that Ons is enjoying like a lady from Center East and she or he is representing. Its wonderful what she has performed for tennis however you guys made me indignant and extra motivated.”
Ostapenko leads 4-0 in her head-to-head document towards Swiatek, having final overwhelmed her within the fourth spherical of the U.S. Open in 2023 and has been in prime type in Doha, defeating fourth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-2 earlier than her win over Jabeur.