Ostapenko to battle for Seoul quarterfinal spot
Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko faces Australia's Taylah Preston this morning for a place in the Seoul tournament quarterfinals. Both players won their opening-round matches in straight sets... well, three for one.
The Baltics' top-ranked tennis player, Jelena Ostapenko (world No. 32), takes on Australia's Taylah Preston (world No. 94) this morning in a second-round match at the Seoul tournament, with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
Ostapenko holds a 22-18 win-loss record this season, while Preston has gone 36-23 in 2026, including results from lower-tier events.
Experience and achievements
On her Grand Slam record, Ostapenko won the French Open title in 2017 and reached the Wimbledon semifinal in 2018. Preston's best Grand Slam results this year have been two second-round appearances. The 29-year-old Latvian has won nine WTA titles across her career, most recently claiming the Stuttgart WTA 500 clay-court title last April. The 20-year-old Preston has yet to win a significant title.
This marks Ostapenko's sixth appearance at the Seoul tournament, where her best results are the 2017 title and a 2022 final. Preston is competing there for the first time.
Road to the second round
In the first round, Ostapenko defeated Anastasia Zakharova (world No. 109) 6-4, 6-1, while Preston beat Japan's Himeno Sakatsume (world No. 119) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Temperatures during the match could reach around 26 degrees Celsius.
