‘Better for Me When Someone is Cheering Against Me’- Jelena Ostapenko Ready to Take On French Hostility

Jelena Ostapenko has seen several highs and lows throughout her rollercoaster career. From winning titles and digging deep in tournaments, to suffering early-round exits, it’s been some ride. Currently, in Paris, the World No. 13 is competing at the 2022 French Open.

The 2017 champion kicked off her campaign with a first-round win over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti. Eyeing her second title on the clay courts of Paris, she will next play the home favorite, Alize Cornet. Seeing the second-round clash, a question that arises is whether Cornet’s home favorite factor will play a role in Ostapenko’s performance.

How will Cornet’s home favorite factor affect Jelena Ostapenko?

Rightly so, the French crowd has always backed their home favorite players immensely. Naturally, that resounding backing can possibly affect the French player’s opponent. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Ostapenko. During the first-round press conference, Ostapenko was questioned about her approach to a match in which the crowd will be cheering against her.

Taking the question with grace, a rather confident Ostapenko asserted it would be an added advantage for her. “I think it’s even better for me when someone is cheering against me, I’m more focused and playing much better,” she said.

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Going further, she expressed how good a player Alize really is. However, giving a whole new angle to the home favorite debate, the 24-year-old reminded everyone of the pressure that comes with it. She also asserted that if she maintains her first-round form, it would be a good match.

“Of course she’s a good player, and it’s gonna be a tough match, but I also feel like it’s her home, so maybe she’s going to have more pressure than me. Yeah, I’m just looking forward to it. I think if I’m going to play the same way as I played today, it can be a good match.”

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In head to head clashes, the two have played each other four times in their careers. Both being strong competitors, they have won two matches each. However, interestingly, neither of the four ties between the two have taken place in France.

Taking that into consideration, this would be the first-ever meeting of the two in a French city. While both the players seem to be in top form, it would be a delight to see who gets the better of whom on the clay-court in Paris.