• In the third round, Latvia’s first racket Alon Ostapenko (WTA 25th) fought against Czech number one Petar Kvitova (WTA 15th), who lost to her in the previous meeting – 3:6, 2:6.
→ This time, in the first set of the match, Ostapenko dominated – she broke Kvitova’s serve three times and won with 6:0.
→ → In the second set, the scene was completely different – Ostapenko did not hold serve three times and lost with 0:6.
• Ostapenko looked unwell in singles on March 10 and healthy in doubles on March 12, but now she has a runny nose and cough again.
Can report her temp is 99F (we’re in America).
The doctor is coming. They don’t know how long it’ll take. pic.twitter.com/Cj0Fh68FZz— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) March 13, 2023
→ → → In the decisive set, the Latvian tennis player did not hold serve twice (0:3) and struggled with a cough even during the medical break. Having won two breaks, Kvitova served convincingly (0:4), but in the continuation Ostapenko also won (1:4), ending the series of ten lost games. During the short break, Ostapenko replied to Tienese that she did not feel “okay”. Kvitova made a double fault and hit across the court (two break points at once), Ostapenko missed the court, but then another double fault happened to the Czech – 2:4. Ostapenko confidently served to 3-4. Kvitova made her 10th and 11th double fault in this match (two break points at once), but then a long game ended with the Czech’s shot outside – 4:4. Ostapenko was about to serve, but the umpire called her back because of Kvitova’s medical interruption. The medical specialist worked with the index finger of her left hand. Ostapenko did not hold serve (4:5) and lost with 4:6.
• Series of games – 6:0, 0:10, 4:0, 0:2.
• The head-to-head record is now 4-6.
Kvitova through. Considering everything that went on the handshake was fabulous, with Kvitova appearing to more or less say, “Yeah, you weren’t feeling too well, were you” and Ostapenko going, “Yeah, no, felt like crap tbh). pic.twitter.com/qWTKsYgrxr
— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) March 13, 2023
• On live television, the 33-year-old winner, Kvitova, said: “I’m getting older and slower, but I’m still here.”
Game statistics
| Ostapenko | Kvitova | |
|---|---|---|
| go | 0 | 6 |
| Double mistakes | 3 | 11 |
| 1. serve | 60.3% | 54.9% |
| Points after 1st serve | 58.5% (24/41) | 57.8% (26/45) |
| Points after 2nd serve | 37.0% (10/27) | 40.5% (15/37) |
| Break balls | 5/12 | 6/7 |
| Purely won hands | 14 | 18 |
| Unforced errors | 31 | 28 |
| Points | 75 | 75 |
• Round three is worth 65 ranking points and $55,770 in prize money.
• In the doubles round of 16, Latvian-Ukrainian tandem Alyona Ostapenko and Ludmila Kičenok will play against Brazilian Beatrice Hadad-Maija and German Laura Siegemund. The game will take place on Tuesday night.
Resources used:
wtatennis.com
