Jelena Ostapenko has reflected on the pressures that confronted her as a young Grand Slam winner and how the experience helped her to develop.
In 2017, Ostapenko won her maiden Grand Slam at the age of just 20 in incredible circumstances. Ostapenko was one set and 3-0 down against Simona Halep in the Roland Garros final before she fought back and became the first-ever Latvian player to win a Grand Slam title.
Since her victory in 2017, Ostapenko has struggled with consistency and the intense expectations placed upon her. When reflecting on the Roland Garros victory after another comeback win against Iga Swiatek at the 2023 US Open, Ostapenko expanded on some of the scrutiny and expectations she has faced that have inevitably caused problems in recent years.
"I mean, when I won Grand Slam, I said it already many times, my whole life changed and I needed time to adapt to all that. That wasn't easy because at that time I was 19 years old, turning 20."
"I was expecting that I can win a Grand Slam, but not at such an early age. Of course, it's really difficult to get used to all this attention, pressure. Everybody expects you to win every single match, every single tournament. This is not possible because you are human and you cannot win every single match."
Following her US Open triumph over Swiatek, Ostapenko will be eyeing more Grand Slam success as she progressed to her second major quarter-final of the season. The Latvian player also feels she is well placed now after having time to digest her Roland Garros victory at such a young age.
"I needed little bit time. I think it took me little while to get used to that. I feel now I'm more mature. Again, I start to feel in a good way, more loose when I play, I don't think too much and I just enjoy it."
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