Two Grand Slam champions, Jelena Ostapenko and Venus Williams, fought a match in three sets in Birmingham (WTA 250). The Latvian won and will be Magdalena Fręch’s rival.

Venus Williams (WTA 697), 43, started her performance in Birmingham by eliminating Italian Camila Giorgi after more than three hours of marathon. On Thursday, the winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles fought an exciting battle with Jelena Ostapenko (WTA 17). The 2017 Roland Garros champion from Latvia qualified for the quarter-finals by beating the American 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Williams gave the chase 3-6, 3-5. She saved the match ball, won six in a row and led 2-0 in the third set. Ostapenko shook herself and equalized at 2:2. Later, the American had a break point at 4:2. The Latvian defended it and saved the pass at 3:3. The end was definitely his. She made two breaks and is in the quarter-finals.

The match lasted two hours and 26 minutes. Ostapenko served 11 aces and Williams had seven. The Latvian blocked eight of 12 break points and used six of 14 break points. It was the third meeting of these tennis players. In 2017, the American won two victories, in the Wimbledon quarter-finals and in the group stage of the WTA Finals. Ostapenko will be another rival of Magdalena Fręch.

Rothesay Classic Birmingham, Birmingham (United Kingdom)
WTA 250, grass pitch, prize pool 259.3 thousand. dollar
Thursday June 22

2nd singles round:

Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic, 1) – Tereza Martincova (Czech Republic, Q) 6-4, 6-4
Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia, 2nd) bt Venus Williams (USA, WC) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Anastasia Potapova (4) – Caty McNally (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(0)
Rebecca Marino (Canada, LL) v Emina Bektas (USA, Q) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1)

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