Jelena Ostapenko works with Marion Bartoli: "We are good friends"
Somewhat surprisingly, Jelena Ostapenko brought a new trainer to the WTA tournament in Linz. The Latvian is looked after by Marion Bartoli, who ended her career in summer 2013. The collaboration is noticeably good for her mood.
by Lukas Zahrer from Linz
last edit: Oct 09, 2019, 07:44 pm
"We are good friends. We always go for a coffee at the Grand Slams, I visited them on vacation in Dubai. So I asked her if she would like to support me this week, ”said a very cheerful Ostapenko after a convincing 6: 1, 6: 3 after 73 minutes about the German Tamara Korpatsch.
The 22-year-old Ostapenko, French Open winner of 2017, achieved the best ranking in her career with number five in March 2018. A few months later, she reached her second best result in a Grand Slam tournament with a Wimbledon semi-final.
At the victory in Paris, Bartoli interviewed the then 19-year-old Ostapenko, even then the French woman was impressed by her now protégé. "It was incredible what she did. She handled the pressure superbly. Over the years she kept asking me what I thought about individual players because I watched them comment. We have a similar style of play so I understand well how she plays. "
Ostapenko always tries to use the entire court. She likes to prepare points with targeted punches and then complete them with strong winners. “She likes to be in place when she returns. She succeeds in many breaks and attacks the balls. I also recognize similarities mentally, ”said Bartoli. "I have to give her back the confidence that she feels like a top 10 player." Above all, key points for the serve should help to reduce the number of double errors.
Marion Bartoli declined other coaching offers
Bartoli did not want to decide how long the collaboration with Ostapenko will continue. According to the mood of the two in Linz, the newly formed team could also be seen in the coming season. “I have no expectations after this difficult season. I want to enjoy the sport again and be more positive, ”said Ostapenko. She wants to do the training for the 2020 season in her home country.
Bartoli admitted to having had offers from other players. However, since these have a lower ranking, she could not agree to work as a trainer with her assignments as a TV commentator.
"You have to find the right one. I'm not going to turn your entire game upside down. But I see one or two components that we could change. As an ex-player, I can bring that certain something," said Bartoli.
An offer from a professional from Bartoli's homeland of France has so far failed to appear. "I'm not sure why. I am very happy to work with Aljona. ”
Ostapenko complains: trainers? "90 percent are men"
She is happy to be looked after again by a woman. "I tried a lot of male coaches, but it should never really work." Ostapenko's mother took her to tennis at the age of five, and Anabel Medina Garrigues from Spain led her to the French Open title. She separated from Glenn Schaap, who had not supported her for two years.
"90 percent of the coaches are men," complained Ostapenko. Bartoli agreed: “You have to show understanding. Men may not be able to put themselves in the female psyche as well. They are somewhat rougher in their pronunciation. I saw a lot of on-court coaching in which the coach stepped on a frustrated player. That is not the right way. "
The year 2019 was anything but as desired for Ostapenko. The lady from Riga suffered a whopping 14 first-round defeats, causing her to drop to 72nd place in the world rankings. Things went better in doubles, where she last reached the final in Beijing and is 22nd.