Jelena Ostapenko
highlighted
Serena Williams as a benchmark for her "big personality"
Former
French Open champion
spoke about the former American tennis player, and revealed that she admires
her for things that go beyond her titles:
"I think some girls
are maybe too similar and they try to always be the same like the other ones. I
think everyone has to be special, everyone has to be themselves. I love
characters like Serena, such a big personality she is.
Even the
way she dresses on the court. Sometimes she wears crazy outfits but it looks
really good. Good on her, she knows
how to impact people,"
The Latvian won her
first and only Grand Slam in 2017 at just 20 years old, and although she hasn't
made it to the forefront of world tennis again, she is a dangerous player in
every tournament she plays. Ostapenko hasn't broken into the top-10 again since
2018, but she has managed to win a few titles and spend most of her time in the
top-25 in recent years.
The 25-year-old player
believes that she has the level to play well in the majors and continue to
achieve success. After wasting two match points in the round of 16 in Doha
against Jessica Pegula, Ostapenko weighed in:
"As a player I feel
more mature and more consistent this year. Like here in Doha, that I lost my singles and I felt I was
a better player and had to win it, I’m learning more from this matches, you
know? I started well this year, if I keep it up and work hard I think I can
play well at the Grand Slams," world No. 14 said.