QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 14, 2025

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/I. Swiatek

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Jelena, congratulations on the win and making it to the finals here in Doha with a win against a three-time champion here, how does it feel?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Thank you. Yeah, I mean, she's such a great player, and with an amazing team behind her. So it's, you know, I'm really just happy with the way I was playing, you know, and, yeah, just really happy to be through to the finals.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. How do you explain your record against Iga?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, as I said, she's a great player, she's done a lot for tennis, and she has a great team behind her. But when I play against her I just go on the court with the right mindset, and I'm thinking more about myself and what I have to do, and try to focus on the things that I have to do on the court.

Q. Congratulations on a great win, but the question is, why don't you always play like this?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: (Laughing). That's a good question. No, but, you know, I was working hard in the pre-season, and I feel like a few matches like didn't really go my way, but I was already very close in those matches.

I feel like now things are going more my way, and I'm more consistent on the court, and I'm just doing what I have to do and play aggressive.

Q. Your return is amazing today, and seems like you started moving and reacting before Iga hit the serve, so I was wondering if you can read her serve, where she was serving and hitting, so can you explain that?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, obviously I was preparing for the match, and I pretty much knew what to expect from her. I don't know, sometimes I know where the ball's coming, but sometimes I'm just going with my feelings and my instincts, so that helps me.

Q. It's your second final after nine years here. If you had to compare Jelena from 2016 and Jelena from now, which would be the conclusion?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think honestly now I'm a better player, and mentally as well. At that time I was probably fearless, but I didn't have that much experience. I think now I have way more experience, and getting like a bit older and more mature I think is going to help me.

Q. As far as the strategy, what do you think you'll be focusing on tomorrow, just as far as your technique, and also the mindset to win it tomorrow?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just play my game, stay aggressive, and don't be hard on myself and just enjoy, because it's a great week, and it's great to be in the finals, especially here in Doha.

Q. Such an amazing focus on the mindset and the game plan, so for tomorrow what are the things that will be surprising on the court?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: That's a secret, you know, (laughing). But as I said, I have to focus more on myself and the things I've been working on, and just enjoy it and don't be hard on myself.

Q. Do you still like dancing? I remember you said that you love to dance. Do you find time to dance sometimes?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I love dancing, but there is one problem, that my coach, he's not living in Latvia anymore, so I'm looking for another coach, because he was the one who could dance with me as well, like together, so I didn't need a partner, because he used to be a great dancer. So, yeah, it's a little problem now, I think I haven't done it for more than a year, but I hope I'll find a good coach, and then I can keep doing it, because I think I really love it.

Q. Of course you are very aggressive player, and people, of course, know you as a player that likes to attack, but do you think that sometimes people would misunderstood you, because you are very good at, of course, doubles, and you might be more like an all-court player, or you are really confident on every kind of shot, like a volley or dropshot, or do you think that, you know, like people would misunderstood you?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think I can do many shots on the court, and I can also like change the shots. I feel like I like to be aggressive, I like to be in control of the match, and I like to take risk on the court and off the court as well, so I'm just this kind of person.