Jelena Ostapenko is in superb form ahead of the French Open, having just won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Ostapenko beat Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek en route to the title; the former in the final and the latter in the quarter-finals.
Those wins from Ostapenko came either side of a semi-final success over Ekaterina Alexandrova, after she beat Dayana Yastremska and Emma Navarro early on at the event.
The Latvian has now climbed six places to 18th in the WTA Tour rankings after winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
After the final, Ostapenko spoke highly of Sabalenka, who has remained in top spot, with Swiatek also retaining her position as world number two.
John Isner says Jelena Ostapenko has no chance of winning the French Open
All three players now turn their focus to the Madrid Open, hoping to build momentum towards next month’s French Open.
And Ostapenko’s chances of success in Paris have now been rated by former professionals John Isner and Steve Johnson.
Speaking on the Nothing Major Show, Isner said of the 2017 champion: “I am going to say unequivocally no. No offence to her.
“Because Stuttgart was indoors and I think the way she hits the ball, she hits it so flat, I just think those indoor clay conditions suited her well.
“Now she has won the French Open before, I just think it’s a different animal going up there and especially trying to take that title and maybe face Iga again. I would like to see that rematch at the French Open.
“That would be very interesting if she could take out Iga at a tournament she has really dominated over the last couple of years. I still think there are five or six players easily who have a better chance of winning than her.”
Steve Johnson says what is key for Jelena Ostapenko to have a chance of French Open success
Ostapenko remarkably took her head-to-head record with Swiatek to 6-0, but the Pole is very much the player to beat at the French Open.
She has emerged victorious at Roland Garros in four of the last five years, which includes three successive wins since 2022.
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But Johnson is slightly more optimistic in his Ostapenko verdict, saying: “I think the conditions for her. As long as it’s a hot and warm French Open in a couple of weeks, I think she has a chance.
“But other than that, if it’s cold Swiatek is going to be the overwhelming favourite once again and I think there is going to be a few after her – Sabalenka, Coco [Gauff], Jess [Pegula], Emma Navarro. So I think she is down the pecking order on that one but if it’s hot I think she has a chance for sure.”
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