SUMMARY
- Kasatkina and Ostapenko's relationship has seen ups and downs, notably a tense handshake at the 2017 US Open.
- Recent positive interactions, like Adelaide's award ceremony, hint that their relationship has soothed in the last couple of years.
The dynamics between Daria Kasatkina and Jelena Ostapenko have experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows over the years, marked by evident strains during their on-court confrontations. One memorable instance is the sour handshake exchanged at the US Open in 2017, highlighting the discord that lingered between them.
In 2018, during the finals at the Charleston Open, where Ostapenko was the runner-up to Kasatkina, she didn’t even acknowledge her opponent during the trophy presentation. Ostapenko shrugged it off by saying that she didn’t even know her, although they had been playing in the same tournaments since their junior days.
In a candid discussion during that period, Kasatkina openly acknowledged the tension, revealing that there had been a persistent undercurrent in their relationship for years. In an interview with a Russian TV channel, Kasatkina shed light on the complexities of their relationship.
#Kasatkina: Some people think that we are friends with #Ostapenko. That’s not true. Actually there is a lot of tension between us. It wasn’t just one big incident, something here, something there. It started many years ago. (https://t.co/N8M5NfwDq2) pic.twitter.com/ruSnSJyp6t
— Ilya Ryvlin (@ryvlin) May 26, 2018
She admitted, “Some people think that we are friends. That’s not true. Actually, there is a lot of tension between us. It wasn’t just one big incident, something here, something there. It started many years ago.” However, time has played a transformative role, reshaping their association for the better.
A significant turning point in their rapport surfaced at the awards ceremony of the just concluded Adelaida International tournament, where Kasatkina extended congratulations to Ostapenko, saying, “First, I would like to congratulate Jelena on a great week. We had our problems before, but now I am very happy that we can be on the same stage, in a peaceful environment. I think that’s great.”
Daria Kasatkina after losing to Jelena Ostapenko in #AdelaideTennis :
“Good evening everyone. First I’d like to congratulate Alona with a great week. We had our issues before. But now I’m really happy we can be on the same stage, in a peaceful environment. I think that’s great.”… pic.twitter.com/Faf7sMLMZA
— Tan 🍁 (@Tivnem) January 13, 2024
As their relationship continues to evolve, the origins of their discord remain a subject of speculation within the tennis community, but as far as the present is concerned, they seem to have ironed out their differences for the better.
Daria Kasatkina vs. Jelena Ostapenko
The rivalry between Daria Kasatkina and Jelena Ostapenko dates back to 2015, and both players have had their share of triumphs and setbacks. Daria Kasatkina is currently ranked 13 in the world, just behind Ostapenko, who is ranked 10. Both also have a similar number of wins on the tour, with Russian Kasatkina securing 348 wins and her Latvian counterpart having 349 wins.
Kasatkina has secured six titles, while Ostapenko has clinched seven titles, including a Grand Slam win at the French Open, reflecting her dominance on the women’s tennis tour. When it comes to the prize money, Kasatkina has earned $10,911,779 throughout her career, while Ostapenko has amassed $14,158,643. This financial success underlines their consistent performance and competitiveness.
.@DKasatkina makes 2017 US Open R4 for 1st time after toppling reigning French Open champ Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 https://t.co/oT3u5Cr3o0 #usopen pic.twitter.com/O5l4OckPjp
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
The head-to-head matchups between Kasatkina and Ostapenko reflect the dominance of the Latvian. Their recent clash at the Adelaide International final saw Ostapenko emerge victorious with a straight-set win, the eighth encounter in the budding rivalry of the two 26-year-olds. So far, Jelena Ostapenko is 6-2 in their h2h encounters.
Over the years, their rivalry has unfolded in various tournaments, each match adding a new chapter to their story. The history of their confrontations includes notable tournaments like Wimbledon, Eastbourne, the US Open, Charleston, and the Rome Masters.