WTA: Jelena Ostapenko – Mrs. Mama will always remain boss

Jelena Ostapenko breaks new ground on the coach question – and remains true to one principle: her mother Jelena Jakovleva will always have the last word.

The image of the past French Open was significant: while Jelena Ostapenko, with Anabel Medina Garrigues on one of the training fields at Club Jean Bouin, near the national rugby stadium in Paris, devoted herself to the refinement of her serve, Jelena Jakovleva, the mother of the later surprise winner, was rather bored in the sun. And waited for the end of the practice unit. Afterwards, however, they have to discuss the further procedure in detail with their daughter.

The neutral observer had to be clear at that time: The true boss of the Ostapenko team is Mrs. Mama. And it will stay that way.

“Our cooperation with Anabel has come to an end and I won’t be working with her next season,”Ostapenko said,”My mother will always be my head coach, but I’ve been training with Australian coach Dabid Talyor for two weeks.”

For Anabel Medina Garrigues, a new career path has already opened up with the post of head of the Fed Cup in Spain, but one that would not have completely cast doubt on further cooperation with Ostapenko. The Spaniard had gladly devoted herself to her protégé in a very direct speech, for example in Prague when Ostapenko wanted to give up because of a little ailment, but Medina Garrigues did not want to take her decision. Maybe it’s also a reason why they parted ways.

Much has changed since then: In 2017, Jelena Ostapenko had to go through three tough qualifying rounds for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and now she will be praised as one of the stars in the preview of the upcoming edition. With good reason – after all, the 20-year-old Latvian has no boredom in her repertoire.

I have less time for training because we just can’t say “no”, says Ostapenko.”This week alone we have to fly abroad three times.”

Jelena Ostapenko is expected to start the new season in Shenzen, followed by a start at the WTA tournament in Sydney. Ostapenko left it open whether it will be available in the Fed Cup match against Estonia – she had to see how the tournaments develop.