Paris: Latvian daredevil Jelena Ostapenko started tennis practicing against a wall — she would be well advised to remember those early experiences when she faces master of defence Simona Halep in Saturday’s French Open final.
The 20-year-old, looking to become the first unseeded woman to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since 1933, blazed her way to the final, hitting winners and errors with reckless abandon.
Third seed Halep, instead, dug herself into her second French Open final, showing the classical claycourt skills that marked her out as many people’s pre-tournament favourite.
Nowhere was her tenacity and ability to soak up punishment more apparent than in the quarter-finals when she trailed Elina Svitolina by a set and 5-1 but somehow found a way to win.
Should she win on Saturday she will be the first player since Justine Henin in 2005 to win a singles’ title at Roland Garros after saving a match point.
With so many big names absent from the draw this could be Halep’s best chance to land a first grand slam — but that is not all that is at stake.
The stars seem aligned for the Latvian, whose style is reminiscent of that of Monica Seles. She goes for the throat on every shot, always looking for the lines.
The average speed of Ostapenko’s forehand is indeed higher than Andy Murray at this year’s tournament, a frightening prospect for most of her opponents.
