By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, February 13, 2025
Photo credit: Mohamed Farag/Getty
Despite the jeers from a section of the crowd, Jelena Ostapenko rose to the occasion in Doha.
Fueled by the whistles and shouts aimed at her during serves, Ostapenko subdued both the hecklers and opponent Ons Jabeur with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory, propelling her into her third semifinal in Doha, where she will face the formidable three-time defending champion, Iga Swiatek.
WTA: Stefano Vukov’s Suspension Continues
In her post-match interview, Ostapenko expressed gratitude to the fans: “Thank you for not cheering me; it only fueled my motivation more. I appreciate those who did support me.”
One key lesson from this encounter: provoke Ostapenko, and she’ll respond with fervor. After sealing her victory, an energized Ostapenko celebrated with enthusiastic gestures to the audience.
“Playing in an arena where everyone roots for your opponent is an experience,” Ostapenko remarked. “While I admire Jabeur’s achievements, the negative energy from some fans just pushed me to perform better. It’s all part of the game,” she noted. “I hope all of you enjoyed the match—thank you!”
Interestingly, Ostapenko’s ability to leverage crowd adversity echoes that of the youthful Daniil Medvedev, who infamously interacted with US Open fans during his 2019 run, turning hostility into motivation.
“I want everyone to know, when you go to bed tonight, it’s because of you that I won,” Medvedev quipped to a chorus of boos, adding, “The more you boo, the more I’ll win. Thank you!”
Ostapenko joins the ranks of tennis greats like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and John McEnroe, who have used crowd animosity to inspire fierce performances.
Reflecting on Gonzalez, Rod Laver once remarked, “We hoped he wouldn’t get riled, but it just made him stronger.”
Ostapenko is no stranger to stirring up emotions—not just in her adversaries but also among the spectators. During her match, some fans actively tried to unsettle her during her service motions.
Tied 1-1 in the second set, a few rowdy spectators yelled during her toss, prompting Ostapenko to maintain her composure. At one point, she even flashed a thumbs-up, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
Powered by the crowd’s antics, Ostapenko held her serve and then broke Jabeur to take a 3-1 lead, avenging her recent loss to Jabeur in Abu Dhabi (7-6(4), 7-5).
Ranked No. 36 in the world, Ostapenko will now contest a semifinal against the reigning three-time champion, Iga Swiatek. She holds a perfect 4-0 record against Swiatek, having eliminated her at the 2023 US Open. Swiatek arrives in the semifinals on the back of a remarkable 15-match winning streak in Doha.
“It’s all about maintaining my balance, and I aim to carry this momentum into tomorrow’s match,” stated Ostapenko, a 2016 Doha finalist. “When I’m in my groove, I believe I can challenge any player. My journey has involved close calls, but the grind is paying off as I rediscover my game.”
