Ostepenko's future prospects in the game?

jaystarhair

New User
What are your views on the new bright starlet of womens tennis who shocked the world with her RG triumph. I see her being a lot like Muguruza, not being super consistent. However I do see her becoming a multi slam champion in her career, probably 3 or more slam titles. Particularly with how weak the womens game will be for awhile post Serena. Like Muguruza her favorite surface will probably be clay, although her game can translate well to most surfaces.
 

jaystarhair

New User
She will be another FO one slam wonder that accomplishes little else like Ivanovic, Muguruza.

I think Muguruza will win atleast 1 more slam, and quite possibly multiple in the future as well. She will always be a super streaky player but with how weak the womens game is post Serena it is hard to see her ending up as a 1 slam wonder.
 

ANDYbhGENIUS

Professional
You did not spell her name correctly, so do your job and edit ;)

OstApenko will likely not win another major, the list of one time winners dropping off after a slam is much much longer than Ivanovic and Muguruza, so you may detect a pattern here.

Rivalries are of the past, the new wave for ...... is???

Right. Kerber, look into what she said recently. ;) ;)
 

deBroglie

Professional
I don't think she'll ever replicate her success. She had an incredible run in Paris, but it's undeniable that her game is based on her being in form. If she's not playing at her best, she will struggle to find another way to win. I doubt whether she will ever reach the semifinals of a major again. This is just my (possibly unpopular) opinion though.
 

bitcoinoperated

Hall of Fame
The good thing is she has all the time in the world to do more. People might mock her for being a one Slam wonder but right now, even though she is just 20, I'd probably rather be in her shoes than Halep's or Radwanska's.

I worry it is just too much too soon. Pova could handle it at 17 but the ice queen is a special case.
 

Peters

Professional
Her serve is an absolute shocker. A complete liability.

Okay, on clay she has some time to deal with big returns off her bad serve, but losing that 2nd set 6-0 yesterday on grass did not surprise me one bit.

She's a huge candidate for being a 1-slam wonder, but there's also a chance she will improve her serve and give herself some leeway. At the moment though, the only chance she has is if she hits a ridiculous purple streak hitting lights out 7 matches in a row.
 
I think sometimes the difference of who does well in the women's game is all mental. She's a little cocky, which I think will help her. And her ground strokes can be brutal. I think she will be better than a one hit wonder. That serve tho :(
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
No doubt that Ostapenkos ground strokes, off both wings, are huge weapons that even the fleetest of foot cannot counter. Enemy #1 is consistency. If she can cut back back on U.E a bit (from F.O standards) won't matter what kind of serve she has. Go for a bit less on first serves to get a higher % in. A big server like Serena or Plishkova she'd have trouble with.
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Spellbound by her game and think she's got a lot more going for her than Ana did (and Garbine does) and would bet anything she'll go on to win many Slams. Hopefully her results over the next few weeks continue to feed her massive self-belief.

Her cockiness and confidence is a huge weapon, it seems.

A few great things she brings to the WTA top-tier table:

  • Brushes off the bad vibe of a lost point/error and starts afresh like no player I've ever seen - ATP or WTA
  • Her mom's coached her from the start but even given her steady rise, she saw it fit to bring on Medina-Garrigues and seems highly receptive
  • Absolutely hugs the baseline and spanks the lines...all with awesome power
  • Recently jumped from Nike into the Adidas fold - they'll likely support her with supplementary coaching
  • She expects a lot of herself and will keep improving
  • Confident that when she's 'playing her game' the match is on her racket. Her coach agrees. Hell, commentators agree. During the match, she just needs to keep her head in a constant groove. (which she already does quite consistently)
  • Okay, she can be petulant and all that, but her positivity and easy belief on court is so damn refreshing - she's an absolute joy to watch!
  • Got loads of areas yet to improve - serve being number one - never seen her hit a finesse or punched volley like, ever
  • Movement is excellent and defends like an animal though her defense is usually applying the offense
  • Great interviewee...speaks almost as quickly as Ivanovic, but keeps it brutally short
  • She's pretty, quirky, keen and fun - a great combo
  • Her ranking's shot up, seeding will make draws less brutal and she's got a little aura going. I doubt she's gonna be fazed the rest of 2017
  • Her understated post-match celebrations give you the impression that she 1) is not overwhelmed by the situation or 2) in awe of her ability - she expects this and more
  • Clay is actually her worst surface - I've heard her say grass is her favorite and then hard-court, so there MUST be more to come ;)

Penko's the real deal! My two pence! :D

jelena-ostapenko-french-open-afp_806x605_81496946064.jpg
 
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Mick

Legend
in the FO semifinal, they displayed the stats of the avg Forehand speed in the tournament and Ostepenko's FH speed was faster than Andy Murray's: 76 mph vs 73 mph :-O
 

Mazz Retic

Hall of Fame
She's just made the quarters after winning the slam prior. She's got talent alright and her consistency while still patchy in matches is loads better than 1st time slam winners of recent years. I think I am on board the Ostapenko train wherever that leads!
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
The good thing is she has all the time in the world to do more. People might mock her for being a one Slam wonder but right now, even though she is just 20, I'd probably rather be in her shoes than Halep's or Radwanska's.

It's amazing that the first thing people think of when a young player wins a Slam is to mock her for being a one Slam wonder.
 

sportmac

Hall of Fame
Future would be the key word here. And the future looks good for the WTA.

Right now Muguruza and Ostapenko have two more slams than the lost gen and next gen of the ATP.
 
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tacou

G.O.A.T.
I don't think she'll ever replicate her success. She had an incredible run in Paris, but it's undeniable that her game is based on her being in form. If she's not playing at her best, she will struggle to find another way to win. I doubt whether she will ever reach the semifinals of a major again. This is just well her strokes have translated to the cooker surface, both at Wimbledon and in the sporran or wherever she warmed up.(possibly unpopular) opinion though.
I don't think you are out of line with this opinion, though she is already just one win away from a second semi final. I am surprised by how well her strokes have translated to a quicker surface, both at Wimbledon and in Eastbourne or wherever she warmed up.

I agree she lacks variety and even though she's only 20 I don't get the feeling her game is going to develop much more. However, she seems a lot stronger mentally than even some of the more established players in the game right now.

All told, if she has a relatively injury free career for the next 10 or more years, I definitely see her getting another major or two. Maybe more, depending how consistent she ends up being with her high-stakes style of play.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Her serve is ASS. Until she improves that I don't see her doing great on faster surfaces

So is Sharapova's and how many slams has the ice queen won?

I agree she needs a better serve to really have a chance at domination. But she's shown that even with a dog's breakfast serve, she can make up for it with offensive groundstrokes.

I love her game because there is nothing like watching athletes in the "go big or go home" mode. It leads to both spectacular victories and spectacular failures, both of which have their entertainment value. I'd rather watch an Ostapenko match these days than any Murray or Djokovic match.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I am impressed with her Wimbledon run after winning the French. A post-first-Slam flameout would not have surprised me. Would love to see Venus or Kuznetsova take home the title.
 

PSNELKE

Legend
So is Sharapova's and how many slams has the ice queen won?

I agree she needs a better serve to really have a chance at domination. But she's shown that even with a dog's breakfast serve, she can make up for it with offensive groundstrokes.

I love her game because there is nothing like watching athletes in the "go big or go home" mode. It leads to both spectacular victories and spectacular failures, both of which have their entertainment value. I'd rather watch an Ostapenko match these days than any Murray or Djokovic match.

Sharapova got elite mental toughness (except when she faces Serena) and heavier groundstrokes than Ostapenko. Also her serve is nowhere as bad as hers. Ostapenko's serve is as bad as Kerber's.

I really like her offensive approach and those heavy shots but that serve needs to get fixed ASAP. I could definately see her dominate in the future
 

mmk

Hall of Fame
Sharapova got elite mental toughness (except when she faces Serena) and heavier groundstrokes than Ostapenko. Also her serve is nowhere as bad as hers. Ostapenko's serve is as bad as Kerber's.

I really like her offensive approach and those heavy shots but that serve needs to get fixed ASAP. I could definately see her dominate in the future
Post-Williams sisters, I don't see anyone dominating. But she has as good a chance of winning slams as anyone, everyone else has problems they need to overcome.
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Who cares?
She just won three million, no need to win anything else.

For sure she doesn't give a damn about the ca$h - she's said as much a few times and I believe her.

Her words post the FO win were, "I've already got everything I need"

It's the sheer thrill of competing that drives her, that's the frequency she's tuned into.

I think that's exciting to witness, like the possessed artist that forgets to eat...or shower :D
 

Surion

Hall of Fame
For sure she doesn't give a damn about the ca$h - she's said as much a few times and I believe her.

Her words post the FO win were, "I've already got everything I need"

It's the sheer thrill of competing that drives her, that's the frequency she's tuned into.

I think that's exciting to witness, like the possessed artist that forgets to eat...or shower :D
That's ********.
She didn't win anything before and certainly didn't make a lot of money.

Touring all year is very very expensive.
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Yeah, I suppose like anything else, it's expensive if you don't do it right.

Can't remember what I've read about the ins and outs of breaking even on the tour, but I'm guessing if you have a positive win-loss ratio, you're in a good place?

Just checked and she was listed as having earned almost $1.3m before winning the FO...not too shabby for just over three years on the tour, no?
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
But anyway, I believe her.

Not necessarily doubting that money means absolutely nothing to her, but consider that she was 19 up to a few weeks ago, started playing on the main tour in 2014 and coached and accompanied by her mom up until then.

Still very much a kid, it could be said, with more money than she needed.

Lifestyle-wise very much unlike, say, Vekic who's practically the same age.
 

DerekNoleFam1

Hall of Fame
I think Muguruza will win atleast 1 more slam, and quite possibly multiple in the future as well. She will always be a super streaky player but with how weak the womens game is post Serena it is hard to see her ending up as a 1 slam wonder.

I think they will both win another Slam or 2, but probably not going to be consistent.
They may become the "Stanimals" of the WTA tour.
 

Mazz Retic

Hall of Fame
Spellbound by her game and think she's got a lot more going for her than Ana did (and Garbine does) and would bet anything she'll go on to win many Slams. Hopefully her results over the next few weeks continue to feed her massive self-belief.

Her cockiness and confidence is a huge weapon, it seems.

A few great things she brings to the WTA top-tier table:

  • Brushes off the bad vibe of a lost point/error and starts afresh like no player I've ever seen - ATP or WTA
  • Her mom's coached her from the start but even given her steady rise, she saw it fit to bring on Medina-Garrigues and seems highly receptive
  • Absolutely hugs the baseline and spanks the lines...all with awesome power
  • Recently jumped from Nike into the Adidas fold - they'll likely support her with supplementary coaching
  • She expects a lot of herself and will keep improving
  • Confident that when she's 'playing her game' the match is on her racket. Her coach agrees. Hell, commentators agree. During the match, she just needs to keep her head in a constant groove. (which she already does quite consistently)
  • Okay, she can be petulant and all that, but her positivity and easy belief on court is so damn refreshing - she's an absolute joy to watch!
  • Got loads of areas yet to improve - serve being number one - never seen her hit a finesse or punched volley like, ever
  • Movement is excellent and defends like an animal though her defense is usually applying the offense
  • Great interviewee...speaks almost as quickly as Ivanovic, but keeps it brutally short
  • She's pretty, quirky, keen and fun - a great combo
  • Her ranking's shot up, seeding will make draws less brutal and she's got a little aura going. I doubt she's gonna be fazed the rest of 2017
  • Her understated post-match celebrations give you the impression that she 1) is not overwhelmed by the situation or 2) in awe of her ability - she expects this and more
  • Clay is actually her worst surface - I've heard her say grass is her favorite and then hard-court, so there MUST be more to come ;)
Penko's the real deal! My two pence! :D

jelena-ostapenko-french-open-afp_806x605_81496946064.jpg
Great analysis. Her second serve is what concerns me the most about her chances at Wimbledon this year. Otherwise I would pencil her in to beat Venus comfortably.
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Great analysis. Her second serve is what concerns me the most about her chances at Wimbledon this year. Otherwise I would pencil her in to beat Venus comfortably.

Thanks, man! As another poster said, players will start to figure her out - and the second serve should be the first target.

It's more of a liability on low-bouncing grass as it's spinny and designed for kick, so here at SW19 it's a bit more glaring.

Know what, I think it works both ways - her game's quite dazzling, so whenever an opponent gets the odd peek at a second serve in the midst of all that hammering...AND MISSES...that missed opportunity's probably gonna feel 3x as frustrating and lead to further collapse.

In that respect, Ostapenko's weak second can be seen as a liability for her opponent (as her game's already factoring this in).

I feel Venus is too experienced to miss too many of those chances, but let's remember Ostapenko's built for the big stage...and this is her first Centre Court appearance this Wimbledon.

Time to wheel out the haymaker!! Alona in 2 ellllllectrifying sets! :D
 
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