Ostapenko lashes out at Wimbledon crowd: "I didn't like what they did"

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Jelena Ostapenko successfully overcame one of the most uncomfortable scenarios that a tennis player can face at Wimbledon: going up against a local player with the crowd against her. The Latvian defeated Harriet Dart in her debut and, after the match, explained how she experienced the court atmosphere, stating that the pressure from the stands ended up becoming extra motivation.

"There were moments when they even applauded my double faults. Obviously, I didn't like that," Ostapenko admitted. Nevertheless, she made it clear that she fully understood the fans' behavior. "It's normal, they were trying to support their player. After the first set, when Harriet started to stage a comeback in the second, I felt that the crowd was very involved in the match because they wanted to see a third set," she explained.

Ostapenko overcomes Dart and criticizes the crowd's attitude

The 2017 Roland Garros champion compared the atmosphere in London with much more intense experiences. "I think that the French or Brazilian crowd are even more passionate," she pointed out, before explaining that she knows how to use such situations to her advantage. "I said I got mad, but in a good way. I try to channel that energy to play better," she commented.

Far from feeling intimidated, Ostapenko confessed that she even found a special motivation. "I know she's a local player and it's completely normal for them to support her. But, in a way, I tried to show them that they were wrong and that they should support the other player, me," she said laughing. "I thought: 'In the next match, you should cheer for me'."

The Latvian also recalled that debuts in Grand Slams are rarely easy. "The first rounds are never simple. It's not about playing perfectly, but about finding a way to win and overcome that initial hurdle," she concluded, satisfied with having handled the situation with personality, which, far from hindering her, ended up bringing out the best in her competitive nature.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ostapenko carga contra el público de Wimbledon: "No me gustó lo que hicieron"