LATVIAN contender Jelena Ostapenko has announced herself as a genuine Australian Open threat after taking out the Adelaide International title yesterday. The tournament’s sixth seed claimed her seventh tour trophy and will return to the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2018.

Ostapenko needed only an hour and 15 minutes to defeat world number 15 Daria Kasatkina, who was also a finalist at the event last year, 6-3, 6-2. The Russian reached the decider on the back of consecutive walkovers in the quarter and semi finals.

“Sometimes it’s just better to get matches and be in the rhythm of matches,” Ostapenko said. “She [Kasatkina] didn’t play for two days so sometimes when you are in the tournament it’s maybe also a disadvantage. It just depends on every player individually.”

Much of Ostapenko’s success in the early part of season 2024 can be put down to her aggressive style of play. Her volume striking produced 32 winners and 27 unforced errors, compared to Kasatkina’s 12 and 13 respectively. She also held her nerve to convert break point opportunities.

“In all moments I tried to play aggressive, in deciding moments especially, to put pressure on her,” Ostapenko said. “I have the game to be there (top 10) and I’m playing aggressively, I’m playing more consistently and I’m more mature as a player.”

Both players will kick off their Australian Open campaigns on Tuesday, with the Grand Slam officially getting underway today in Melbourne. Ostapenko takes on Kimberly Birrell in the first round, while Kasatkina can look forward to a meeting with Peyton Stearns.

Over in Tasmania, Emma Navarro won her maiden WTA Tour title at the Hobart International after defeating two-time champion Elise Mertens. In a battle between the tournament’s top seeds, second-ranked Navarro held firm to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 over a gruelling two hours and 48 minutes.

Navarro rocketed through the first set and was a break up thrice in the second, only for Mertens to hit back each time. The Belgian also saved six break points to hold at 5-4, before taking the set off Navarro’s serve to force a decider.

The third set was tense again as it went to 5-5. Navarro, having produced advantages early in the piece, broke late and held her nerve in the decisive game to take victory. She produced 19 break points in the match, converting eight of them.

“I don’t know if I could put words to the emotions, but it’s been a lot of years in the making,” Navarro said. “My coach and I have been together for eight years, I think. From where we started to now, it’s really crazy to think about.

“Probably six, seven years ago, I was hoping to be a decent college player, and that was going to be good enough for me. So to be here now, it’s really crazy, and I guess just a testament to the work we’ve both put in.”

The victory marks another step in the steep rise of the American, who sits at a career-high ranking of 31 after being poised at number 149 this time last year. Navarro will next make her Australian Open debut against China’s Wang Xiyu, while Mertens will take on Egyptian Mayar Sherif in the first round.

RESULTS

Adelaide International
Jelena Ostapenko (6) def. Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-2

Hobart International
Emma Navarro (2) def. Elise Mertens (1) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5