US Open: Andrea Petkovic just missed a surprise against Elena Ostapenko

Andrea Petkovic just missed a surprise in the first round of the US Open. The 30-year-old lost to tenth-placed Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) after a very strong performance over long stretches with 4:6, 6:4, 5:7, after she managed to equalize a 2:5 deficit in the decisive set, but then missed two break points.

After 2:17 hours Ostapenko turned her fourth match point. The 2017 French Open winner is still waiting for a breakthrough at the season’s final Grand Slam tournament. 21-year-old Ostapenko has never made it beyond the third round in New York.

Petkovic, however, almost ten years older than her opponent, had already experienced many beautiful moments at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 2011 were probably the most emotional when she reached the quarter-finals of Flushing Meadows for the first time – and lost to Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark).

Seven years later, the favourite role in the first round match between “Petko” and “OstaPENGko” was clearly assigned to the powerful but equally unpredictable Latvian, who is now managed by Glen Schaap. But the woman from Darmstadt made it clear right at the beginning that she believed in her chance. In Ostapenko’s second serve, Petkovic moved far into the field to put early pressure on her opponent. Which succeeded at first.

The first service game of the world ranking tenth she got to zero. Petkovic had gained a lot of self-confidence at the beginning of August when she reached the semi-finals in Washington. However, power player Ostapenko, who as usual showed breathtaking winning strokes and hair-raising mistakes, immediately managed the re-break. As well as to the 3:3.

At 4:5 and her own serve, the Hessian then had a short but momentous period of weakness. A forehand mistake, a backhand mistake, a winner from Ostapenko – and the number 89 in the WTA ranking was already faced with three set points. And it followed what had been indicated in this game: With her third double mistake the German number four “gave” her opponent the first set after 37 minutes.

And that had an effect. Petkovic was quickly trailing 3-0, but fought and won four games in a row. The numerous cheers (“Let’s go Petko, let’s go!”) in the newly opened and impressive Louis Armstrong Stadium also inspired them. After another break Petkovic took the lead 5:4 – and won with an ace set two shortly afterwards. Accompanied by a long, defiant primal scream. Also in her box, Father Zoran, in the meanwhile completely sweaty shirt, was the joy to look at.

Andrea Petkovic is one who likes to come to New York again and again. It absorbs the energy of this cultural melting pot like a dry sponge absorbs the water. And the Hessian makes no secret of the fact that one day, after the end of her professional career, she would like to live in the Big Apple for a while. One can vividly imagine how “Petko” becomes one with this crazy city that never sleeps.

Speaking of advice. Petkovic also missed the start in the third set at muggy temperatures (32 degrees Celsius) and followed a fast 1:4 or 2:5 deficit. Ostapenko was able to increase and minimize its overall high error rate in the decisive moments.

But Petkovic reared against the impending defeat and fought off two match points at 3-5 before equalising 5-5 a little later. But in Ostapenko’s next service game “Petko” could not use two break chances for a possible 6:5.

Shortly thereafter, the last hope was gone, after the Darmstadt-based player missed two balls to a possible 6:6. Previously, Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) had already failed 3:6, 2:6 to Naomi Osaka (Japan/No. 20).