As Jelena Ostapenko sat down to conduct her post-match press conference on Friday in the main interview room at the US Open, it was easy to tell that she was already prepping her mind for the ultimate challenge in women’s tennis.
Already undefeated against Polish juggernaut Iga Swiatek, having won all three of their previous encounters, and six of the seven sets they’ve contested, Ostapenko seemed intent to volley all the pressure to the world No.1’s side of the court.
The Latvian with the sledgehammer ground strokes may love to turn up the pressure on her opponents with a dizzying brand of first-strike tennis, but when it comes to pre-match psychology, she’s happy to play the role of deer in the headlights.
"I'm just going to play my game and focus more on myself," she said of the impending clash with the woman who has reigned over the women’s game ever since she ascended to the No. 1 ranking on April 4, 2022. "For sure it's going to be a difficult match. On the other hand, I have nothing to lose and I'm already in the fourth round. I think it's a good achievement, especially at the end of the year. I'm just going to play my best."
Nothing to lose? That time-honored banality can easily be translated into: I refuse to overthink this gargantuan challenge.
What does Ostapenko see as the biggest challenge in facing Swiatek, the tour de force that has gone 36-4 at the majors with three titles since the start of 2022?
"She's playing quite consistent. She's winning a lot of matches," the No. 20 seed said, before quickly changing tack. "It's also not easy to be No. 1 because everybody obviously wants to beat you. I probably will take advantage of that."
Ostapenko, a grip-and-rip specialist who has scorched 129 winners through her first three rounds in New York, delved deeper into the psychology. She says she felt some pressure herself, facing three unseeded players in her first three matches at Flushing Meadows.
She has had a solid season that included reaching her first major quarterfinal since 2018 at this year’s Australian Open, but she knows she’ll need to unburden herself of all worry in order to have a shot at remaining undefeated against Swiatek.
It appears she is well on her way to doing that.
"Of course, it’s easier to play when you are not the favorite because, especially these three matches that I played, I was the favorite. You have a little bit more extra pressure because you understand that everybody expects you to win.
"But I think now I can play free because it's great to be in the fourth round–yeah, just enjoy it."
