Ostapenko grinds past determined Duan
The big-hitting Latvian let out a scream of joy on match point after a battling victory Wednesday in an hour and 44 minutes.
Published : Jan 17, 2018 14:00 IST
French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko was pushed all the way by China's Duan Yingying before grinding out a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win in the second round of the Australian Open.
The big-hitting Latvian let out a scream of joy on match point after a battling victory Wednesday in an hour and 44 minutes.
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Ostapenko dropped her serve twice before winning a see-saw opening set 6-3. But the Chinese world number 100 bounced back to take the second by the same scoreline.
The final act followed a similar pattern with the pair locked on serve until 4-4 when Ostapenko edged in front. And she served out with massive yell of emotion towards her supporters.
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"She was hitting the ball really hard," said seventh seeded Ostapenko. "I'm so happy I could win.
"Everyone wants to beat you when you've won a Grand Slam so I'll just keep trying my best."
She next faces Mona Barthel of Germany or Estonia's Anett Kontaveit for a place in the last 16 of the year's first Grand Slam.