"Makes absolutely zero sense" - Andre Agassi's ex-coach torn between annoyance and amusement following Jelena Ostapenko's line call complains
Former tennis player Brad Gilbert has reacted to Jelena Ostapenko complaining about the line calls.
Ostapenko defeated Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-3 to progress to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open. The 25-year-old was at her very best, overpowering Gauff in straight sets to make it through to the last eight for the first time in Melbourne.
She is also into the last eight at a Major for the first time since reaching the semifinals of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.
But Ostapenko was animated throughout the match, and was seemingly not happy about the line calls by the chair umpire. Gilbert, who once coached Andre Agassi, took to social media to express his displeasure at the Latvian's complaints.
He said:
"I am not sure if all the complaining of electric line calls by Penko is really annoying or comical but makes absolutely zero sense."
I am not sure 🤔 if all the complaining of electric line calls by Penko is really annoying or comical but makes absolutely zero sense
In her post-match on-court interview, when asked by interviewer Laura Robson for her thoughts on the electronic line calling system, Jelena Ostapenko said she did not have confidence in the system.
"Sometimes it feels like it makes some mistakes," the Latvian said.
Jelena Ostapenko does not have much faith in the live #AusOpen line-calling.
"Sometimes it feels like it makes some mistakes!"
Jelena Ostapenko stands between Elena Rybakina and a place in the Australian Open 2023 semifinals
After defeating Coco Gauff to book her place in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open, Jelena Ostapenko will next face Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina, on her part, got the better of World No. 1 Swiatek in straight sets in her fourth-round clash to make it through to the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the first time.
The Latvian leads Rybakina 2-0 in the head-to-head. They first met in the quarterfinals of the Linz Open in 2019, where Ostapenko won 7-5, 6-1. They then met again in the semifinals of the 2021 Eastbourne International, where the 25-year-old triumphed 6-4, 6-1.