The world number 38 Kristina Mladenovic squared off today against 18-year old Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, who caused the first top-10 upset of this year’s Wimbledon by beating ninth-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro, aiming to extend her best ever campaign at the All England Club. As lightning did not strike twice, the teenage qualifier was no match for her top-40 opponent, who ended her Cinderella run.

The beginning of the match, however, did not favor Mladenovic. The Frenchwoman was broken at love in the first game of the showdown, as Ostapenko fired two winners from 0-30 up to jump ahead early in the scores. However, the world number 147 failed to back up her success, hitting two double faults of her own in the very next, also getting broken at love. After that, despite Ostapenko consolidating a break to go up 3/1, the Frenchwoman rebounded to establish herself as the driving force of the set. Mladenovic went on to win five of the next six games and, consequently, the set, as the qualifier, serving at 4/5, double faulted with set points against.

In the second set, Mladenovic lost her serve early once again, but just like the first frame, managed to come back and break her foe right back. Also in a replay of the first set, Ostapenko broke her opponent again, but her consolidation led her to a 4/2 advantage on the scoreboard. However, despite showing potential and going up 5/3 on the Frenchwoman and holding set point at 3/5, 30-40, the Latvian failed to shut the door, leaving it open for Mladenovic to mount a comeback. And she did, holding for 4/5 and winning the next three games – as Jelena lost another set point at 5/4, 40-30 – sealing the deal on her opponent’s serve. This time, however, she did not count on a double fault from Ostapenko, instead forcing a backhand error that eliminated the Latvian from Wimbledon.

Mladenovic now moves on to face 23rd seed Victoria Azarenka in the third round. The former world number one is currently on the comeback trail after losing several months and ranking points due to injuries. The Wimbledon third round matchup is going to be their first meeting. 

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About the author
Pete Liguori
Sports writer for the Racing and Tennis sections on VAVEL. Also a huge baseball and football fan. Trying to live the Big City dream. Follow me on Twitter, chaps: @PeteUSSports