WTA Doha, Qatar

Former finalist Ostapenko juggles multiple challenges to win in Doha

She had little time to adjust after a memorable Fed Cup tie at home in Riga, Latvia.

Published Feb 12, 2019

Former finalist Ostapenko juggles multiple challenges to win in Doha

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DOHA—Jelena Ostapenko had to handle a lot in 48 hours. She arrived from Latvia after 2 A.M. on Monday, and dealt with a quick turnaround, huge condition changes and an unrelenting Mihaela Buzarenescu.

Ostapenko, a finalist in 2017, was upset by Buzarnescu in Doha last year. She refused to suffer a repeat loss, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 on very windy Tuesday afternoon.

Over the weekend in Riga, Ostapenko helped Latvia advance in World Group II play with a 4-0 win over Slovakia. She played both singles and doubles, something she actually does most weeks on the tour. She has a doubles ranking of No. 37 and is playing in the Qatar Total Open doubles draw this week, as the defending champion, no less.

"It's very tough because I played still doubles on Sunday, which I wanted to play, of course," Ostapenko said, of playing the dead Fed Cup rubber. "I didn't have to, but I really wanted to because I love to play at home."

After a wrist injury hindered her at the end of 2018, the Latvian is just 2-3 in WTA action in 2019. The world No. 22 will have an opportunity to even that record when she plays Elina Svitolina on Wednesday. As the No. 4 seed, Svitolina had a bye so she has yet to play a match in Doha and she also didn't play Fed Cup last week.

Former finalist Ostapenko juggles multiple challenges to win in Doha

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