WATCH: Jelena Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic's feud from Wimbledon 2021 and "fake" injury accusation resurfaces ahead of their 2024 1R clash
The feud between Jelena Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships has resurfaced ahead of their first round clash in this year's grasscourt Major. In 2021, Tomljanovic had accused Ostapenko of 'faking' an injury during their match.
At this year's Wimbledon Championships, Ostapenko is seeded 13th and will be facing Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round. This draw brought attention to their last meeting at the grasscourt Major, which resurfaced on social media.
Their previous encounter at SW19 was in 2021 in the third round, in which Tomljanovic won 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. However, the match became infamous for the post-match exchange between the two players.
During the match, Jelena Ostapenko, trailing 4-0 in the deciding set, requested to see her trainer for the pain due to an alleged injury. This tactic did not sit well with Tomljanovic, who approached the chair umpire and accused Ostapenko of feigning injury.
"You know she's lying, right? We all know,” Tomljanovic said to the chair umpire.
After the match, while shaking hands at the net, Ostapenko offered Tomljanovic the opportunity to speak with her physio if she had any doubts about the injury.
"If you think I'm faking it, you can go to the physio," Ostapenko said.
In response, Tomljanovic sarcastically wished the World No. 13 a speedy recovery.
"I hope you feel better," Tomljanovic replied.
This exchange led to Jelena Ostapenko expressing her displeasure with Tomljanovic's behavior, stating that it was "terrible" and that she had "zero respect."
"Your behavior is terrible, terrible. You have zero respect," Ostapenko said.
To which Tomljanovic replied:
"Honestly you're the one to talk. You're the one to talk."
Watch the video here:
To prepare for her Wimbledon campaign this year, Jelena Ostapenko first competed at the 2024 Rothesay Classic. Despite being the top seed, she suffered a defeat in the first round to Elisabetta Cocciaretto with a score of 3-6, 3-6.
Following this, the Latvian participated in the 2024 Rothesay International and was seeded fifth. She managed to secure a victory in the first round against qualifier Greet Minnen with a score of 7-6(3), 6-1. However, she was unable to advance further as she was defeated by Katie Boulter in the second round with a score of 4-6, 5-7.
Although her singles campaign ended in Eastbourne, Jelena Ostapenko is currently competing in the doubles event alongside Lyudmyla Kichenok. The duo defeated pair of Elixane Lechemia and Kimberley Zimmermann, Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund and the British duo of Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden. They will face the top-seeded pair of Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in the final.
On the other hand, Ajla Tomljanovic prepared for the Wimbledon Championships by competing at the ITF Great Britain 07A, where she reached the quarterfinals before being defeated by Olivia Gadecki with a score of 4-6, 5-7.
Tomljanovic then participated in the Rothesay Classic and had used her protected ranking to enter the tournament. She defeated the likes of Anna Blinkova, Zhu Lin, Leylah Fernandez, and Anastasia Potapova to advance to the final. However, she lost the title to Yulia Putintseva, who defeated her 6–1, 7–6(8).
Jelena Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic have faced each other four times on the WTA Tour
Jelena Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic have faced each other four times on the WTA Tour, with the Latvian winning three out of those four encounters.
Their first meeting took place in the second round of the 2021 Italian Open, where Ostapenko secured a 6-2, 7-6(3) win. They crossed paths again at the Wimbledon Championships later that year, with Tomljanovic turning the tables and defeating the World No.13 with 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The two players then went up against each other in the second round of the 2022 Rothesay International, where Ostapenko emerged triumphant with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Their most recent clash occurred in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open, where Jelena Ostapenko claimed a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win.