Jelena Ostapenko has beaten Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets to win the Dubai Championships, reminding everyone of the quality that made her French Open champion when barely out of her teens.
Five years on from her shock Roland Garros triumph, the Latvian cruised past the Russian world No.31 Kudermetova 6-0 6-4 in just over an hour on Saturday to secure a fifth career WTA singles title.
As a result of her run in Dubai, Ostapenko, who defeated the likes of Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep on the way to the final, is projected to climb back into the top 15 of the updated standings.
“I am really happy with the whole week, because it was very tough opponents I had to face every round,” Ostapenko, who has been as high as No.5 in the world, said.
“I was fighting, that was the main thing I was doing, because I had honestly no other choice.
“But I am really happy with the way I was playing all week, and I think this way I can gain more confidence.”
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