Chronic complainers Iga Swiatek and the ATP’s Carlos Alcaraz have drawn fire from a fellow pro, with Anastasia Potapova calling the pair of former No. 1’s “soft and spoiled.”

World No. 32 Potapova unleashed at last week’s WTA event in Austria after the consistent laments from the top players on crowded calendars on their respective Tours.

Spain’s Alcaraz has done himself no favours by cramming in as many big-money off-season exhibitions as possible while voicing his concerns about the crowded ATP schedule; he also said that too many player injuries are occurring as a result of the calendar..

Swiatek has been more discreet but still has her gripes. She blew off steam last summer before the US Open, saying: 

“Our calendar is crazy, probably the toughest one in sports.. most sports have four months off, sometimes even six.

“It’s getting more crazy every year, which is scary.”

Potapova told Russian media in a YouTube interview: “Some players have become too soft and spoiled.

“There are things that make the tour more difficult, but on the other hand, I also had moments when I wasn’t happy with my life when I felt like I couldn’t stay on tour anymore.

“Sometimes you forget where you came from. We really live in our own world and it really is tough at times, but any professional sport is tough.

“It’s a lot of pressure. Both mental and physical, it’s tough, but that’s not the worst life a person can have.”

Main photo:- Anastasia Potapova – WTAtennis.com

Jelena Ostapenko continued her runaway start in 2024 as the Latvian claimed her second title in a month with victory on Sunday at the WTA event in Linz.

The Austrian triumph for the 2017 Roland Garros champion came against Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 6-3 in 71 minutes.

Ostapenko lifted the Adelaide trophy on the day before the start of the Australian Open and has won two titles in a season for the first time since 2017 when she followed up her Paris Grand Slam honours with the Seoul title.

Alexandrova finished runner-up here six years ago; Ostapenko now owns eight career trophies after winning a re-run of January’s Adelaide semi-finals..

The winner now stands an impressive 13-2 on the season, she last played Linz in Upper Austria near the Czech border in 2019, finishing runner-up to precocious teen Coco Gauff, who won the title as a lucky loser from qualifying who entered the field thanks to Maria Sharapova’s pullout.

Main photo:- Jelena Ostapenkpo celebrates by Alexander Scheurer

Jelena Ostapenko got “lucky” with her choice of ourtfit as the sturdy Latvian powed into her second WTA final in as many months to reach the Sunday title showdown in Linz.

January’s Adelaide titleholder and top seed in Upper Austria this week downed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-3, winning.her sixth match from  seven meetings in the series against the 2015 champion here..

Ostapenko, the world No. 12 knocking on the door of a return to the Top 10. fired ten aces, winning her front of VIP tournament guest and 2010 champion Ana Ivanovic, who flew in for the weekend

Ostapenko will face off in the final on indoor hardcourt against, second seed No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, whom she defeated a month ago in the Adelaide semis.

Alexandrova booked her spot over Donna Vekic 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6). The tournament top two seeds will meet in the final for the first time here since 2020 when Aryna Sabalenka beat Elise Mertens.

“I played my heart out, my level was very good, but I couldn’t do much more today,” Vekic, who led 5-1 in the final-set tiebreaker and saved a match point, said.

Prague-based Alexandrova will be playing her second Linz final after losing in 2018 to Italian Camila Giorgi.

“I always play well here. In fact, I don’t play better at any other tournament,” the second-seeded winner ranked 21st said. .

“The final will be another difficult affair. Jelena hits a lot of winners and it’s so difficult to play against her.

“A win would mean so much to me. I played my first final here. And to win the title now would be incredible.”
 
Ostapenko, whose sometimes wacky look is curated by a Latvian designer friend in the garment game, claimed her “lucky” dress – which she co-designed – helped her along,

“The final will be very tough, but I feel like I’m playing better match by match,” she said. 

. Hopefully I can do it all again tomorrow, and I hope you’ll all come along and cheer me on.”

Main photo:- Jelena Ostapenko in her “lucky” dress by Alexander Scheuber