After her loss to Victoria Azarenka in the Brisbane International quarterfinals, Jelena Ostapenko demanded that chair umpire Julie Kjnedlie be barred from her matches.
In the third set decider, Ostapenko fired a drop shot that hit the net cord and landed in front of Azarenka, with the score tied at 4-4. The ball was ruled not to have bounced twice before Azarenka returned it, even though she thought it had. Azarenka went on to win the point and the match.
As she made her way to her chair after the contentious point ended, Ostapenko told the umpire that she was blind. After a superb two and a half hours of play, Ostapenko shook hands with Azarenka but not with Kjendlie.
She said to the chair umpire angrily: “You are blind. It is impossible to play when you make so many mistakes. I never want you at my match again. You will never be at my match. I don’t want you at my matches; you ruin my matches.”
Jelena Ostapenko in 2024
Ranked no.12, the Latvian played her last match on the 5th of January when she was overcome by world no.23 Victoria Azarenka 6-3 3-6 7-5 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
During this season the Latvian has achieved an overall 2-1 record.