Jelena Ostapenko
 

Jelena is a very promising junior from Latvia who I think we're going to hear a lot from in 2012.

She was born on 8th June 1997 in Riga, Latvia. So she's 14 years old. She's coached by Jelena Jakovleva and enjoys dancing, swimming and languages.

She's currently unranked on the WTA tour as she is yet to make her professional debut.

On the ITF junior circuit Jelena's currently ranked #79 with a career high of #77. According to these rankings, she's the second best 14 year old in the world after Francoise Abanda. On the Tennis Europe rankings she's the ranked second in the 16 and under category, behind Ashleigh Barty.

In 2011 Jelena won G4 Kenana Cup, G4 Latvian Open, U14 Les Petits As and two U16 tournaments in Italy. She reached the semifinals of G1 Perin Memorial. Les Petits As in particular is a very prestigious tournament. Some of the past champions include Nadal, Hingis, Safina, Ferrero, Chang, Gasquet and Kournikova. Davenport and Henin were finalists!

Jelena is currently preparing for the Australian Open juniors. She's playing the G1 event, Loy Yang Traralgon International which starts in a few days, before heading over to Melbourne.

I think Jelena has a very promising career ahead of her. :yeah:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Here are some photos of Jelena at Les Petits As.

Quarterfinal against Julia Oloughlin





Semifinal against Belinda Bencic

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Here are some highlights from Jelena winning 2011 Les Petits As final against Anastasiya Komandina! Jelena's grip on her forehand is crazy. :eek:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

And lastly, here is short interview at Les Petits As with Jelena that I found on facebook.

Wilson Junior Team had an oustanding showing at prestigous Les Petit As junior tournament. Both Boys and Girls winners are part of the Wilson Team, Jelena Ostapenko and Henrik Wiersholm. Jelena Ostapenko used her Wilson Tour BLX tennis racket to take the Girls title. We caught up with the rising star to see what she is all about!

Coolest thing about playing Les Petits As?
The coolest thing was, that on final was so many people and most of them were supporting me.

Who is your tennis idol?
My tennis idol is Justine Henin, but when she isn't playing, Kim Clijsters.

If you could play a doubles match with anyone dead or alive, who would be the 3 people?
I would like to play doubles with Azarenka, Henin and Clijsters.

Best song to get pumped before a match?
Best song to get pumped before a match is Dynamite (Taio Cruz).

What is the worst trouble you have ever gotten into?
I hadn't got into any big troubles yet.

What do you love about your Wilson racket?
I like everything in Wilson racket, I can hit balls stronger and with more spin.

What's the best part of being on the Wilson team?
The best I like to play with Wilson is that I can hit strong and I can play good with those rackets.

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

She will do well at juniors because she hits the ball hard but lets hope she grows. What was the score by the way. It was nice that Komandina could stop crying to show that she came second at such a strong tournament!:facepalm:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Jelena won the final against Komardina 1-6 6-3 6-3. I don't think it's too unusual for girls this young to cry after they lose though. I remember seeing Khromacheva doing the same thing losing to Putintseva in the 2009 Eddie Herr final. :tape:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

It must have been unforced error central to lose the first 61. Very good mental toughness though. I think I will now start to follow her career. Is she playing Tallinn in February or Fed Cup?

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

So Ra Lee def. Jelena Ostapenko 76(5) 46 61
:(
Semmed quite close before So Ra pulled out the weaponry

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Disappointing loss to be honest. It's actually her third first round loss in a row. She lost in the first round of Eddie Herr, Orange Bowl and now Loy Yang Traralgon. :help: So I guess she's in a bit of a slump at the moment. She definitely has talent but maybe she's just going through a difficult period. I'm sure she'll overcome it. She's still so young. We'll see how she does at the Australian Open in a week's time. :)

I'm not sure if she's playing Tallinn or Fed Cup. :shrug: I definitely think she'll make her professional debut some time this year in some $10,000 and $25,000 events. I think she's a bit too young for Fed Cup. Maybe next year.

By the way I just realised I made a mistake in my previous post. I meant I saw Khromacheva cry hysterically when she lost to Putintseva in the 2009 Les Petits As final, not Eddie Herr. I don't know why I said Eddie Herr. :lol:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Shes definately good enough for fed cup (disappointing latvia got dropped :() but she may be a bit too young. Tallinn could be a great place to start her professional career. Also it means that some of the estonian guys on the forum could check her out for us. BTW do you have highlights of Les Petits As Khromacheva vs Putintseva. I thought it was weird when you said Eddie Her cause they would both have been 14! Australian Open will be hard. I hope she draws a qualifier or a wildcard as she is the last direct acceptance :scared:

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

By the way, the girl who beat Jelena in Traralgon is now in the semis after beating the likes of Elizaveta Kulichkova. The losss doesnt look so bad now. And I think that Jelena should play fed cup as Belinda Bencic who she beat at Les Petits As is playing for Switzerland against Australia.

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Yep, Lee ended up making the semifinals. Also it has to be said that she's three years older than Jelena and that's a huge difference in terms of experience and development. Australian Open juniors up next.

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Any idea of a year schedule for Jelena. I mean, will she focus on G1s or still play some lower events too?

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Sorry I'm really not sure of what her schedule is. :(

Anyway she's playing the Australian Open juniors now and has a pretty decent draw, considering she's unseeded.

(16)Kyle S. McPhillips (USA) vs. (Q)Megane Bianco (SUI)
Su Jeong Jang (KOR) vs. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
Nao Hibino (JPN) vs. (WC)Belinda Woolcock (AUS)
(4)Yulia Putintseva (RUS) vs. (Q)Catherine Harrison (USA)

Re: Jelena Ostapenko
 

Hopefully second or third round.