Unseeded 20-year-old Ostapenko wins French Open

By CGTN's Wang Meng

Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia used bold strokes and an unbending will to come back and stun No. 3 Romanian Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an enthralling French Open women's final on Saturday. It was the first title of her career.

"I still can't believe I won," Ostapenko told the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier. "It was always my dream, when I was a child I was watching players here. I'm just so happy. I've just enjoyed it so much. I have no words."

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after winning her French Open women's final match against Simona Halep of Romania at Roland Garros in Paris on June 10, 2017. /VCG Photo

Halep claimed the first set 6-4 and went up 3-0 to start the second, but Ostapenko won three straight games to level the score, forcing the Romanian out wide. The Latvian then slammed a winner down the line to close out the set 6-4.

At match point, Ostapenko fittingly ended it with her 54th winner, beating Halep 6-3 in the third set. A new star emerged, who seemed to take her first grand slam triumph in her stride as she calmly greeted the vanquished Romanian at the net.

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia serves during the French Open women's final match against Simona Halep of Romania at Roland Garros in Paris on June 10, 2017. /VCG Photo

Ostapenko has gone from being a first round loser at Roland Garros to a French Open champion, and her first title of any kind on tour is also a first grand slam for a Latvian. In an interesting coincidence, the last player to win their debut title at Roland Garros was Gustavo Kuerten on June 8, 1997, the same day Ostapenko was born.

Ostapenko celebrated her 20th birthday by beating fellow birthday girl Timea Bacsinszky in the semi-final.

2017 French Open women's singles champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (R) and runner-up Simona Halep of Romania. /VCG Photo

Prior to this, her best performance at a grand slam was at this year's Australian Open, where she reached the third round.

Ostapenko has won seven ITF titles, but this was her first WTA crown, and with her stunning victory in Paris, she will rise from the 47th to the 12th in the world rankings next week.

8227km