The 2024 Qatar Open third-round match between Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko ended in controversy when Azarenka refused Ostapenko’s move for a racket touch at the net.
In the WTA 1000 event in Doha, Azarenka and Ostapenko fought it out for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Belarusian dominated the match, winning in one hour and forty-eight minutes, 6-0, 6-3. She gave a clinical performance, making only 20 unintentional mistakes compared to the Latvian’s 49. The former world number one’s victory also increased her perfect record against Ostapenko to 5-0.
As she walked toward the net, the Belarusian moved her racket to her left hand, most likely so her right hand would be free for the traditional handshake after the match. But the Latvian handed her racket for a tap instead, and Azarenka refused to interact with Ostapenko at all, going straight to the chair umpire to shake hands.
The ‘Handshake’.
😂
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 14, 2024
Jelena Ostapenko in 2024
At the moment ranked no.11, Jelena played her last match on the 14th of February when she lost to world no.31 Victoria Azarenka 6-0 6-3 in the 3rd round in Doha (draw).
This season Ostapenko has managed to achieve a composed 14-3 match record. Jelena conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Adelaide and Linz.
Ostapenko is scheduled to compete next in Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Championships). She will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 19th of February.
Azarenka in Doha, ranking, and results in 2024
LWWWLWLWWW Now the world no.31, Azarenka owns a 9-2 match record in 2024. Azarenka is now having a run in Doha where she managed to beat the world no.52 Magdalena Frech 6-3 3-6 6-3, the world no.41 Xinyu Wang 7-62 6-2 and the world no.11 Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-3.
Victoria Azarenka will fight against the world no.1 Iga Swiatek in the quarter on Thursday at 6:30 pm on CENTRE COURT. The head to head is 2-1 for Swiatek.
Victoria won 21 titles in her career: 16 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 4 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Azarenka has scheduled to compete next in Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Championships). She will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 19th of February.
Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka clashed against each other 5 times. Their actual record is 5-0 for Azarenka. Before, the last time they competed against each other, Victoria Azarenka won 6-0 6-3 in the 3rd round in Doha (Qatar TotalEnergies Open) on the 14th of February 2024.
Here the video highlights.
