"Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters" - Tennis fans react to Latvian's handshake with Venus Williams

Tennis fans were left surprised by Jelena Ostapenko’s warm handshake with Venus Williams after their 2023 Birmingham Classic clash.Tournament 2nd seed Ostapenko took on wildcard entrant Williams in the second round of the Birmingham Classic on Thursday, June 22. The duo were involved in an intense battle that lasted two hours and 24 minutes.The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who trailed for the most part in the opening two sets, snatched the second set despite being a match point down. Ostapenko, however, regrouped herself in the decider and scored her first win against the tennis legend after two previous failed attempts.Much to the tennis world’s surprise, Ostapenko concluded her meeting with Williams with a warm handshake at the net. The Latvian is widely known for mercurial personality and general disdain for her opponents.Tennis fans were amused by the 2017 French Open champion’s gesture and shared their reactions about the encounter on social media.“Are my eyes working? Since when does penko smile and give a genuine handshake? I mean Venus is mother but still that’s unheard of,” one fan tweeted in disbelief.Lucas@FlopMerchantAre my eyes working? Since when does penko smile and give a genuine handshake? I mean Venus is mother but still that’s unheard of33Are my eyes working? Since when does penko smile and give a genuine handshake? I mean Venus is mother but still that’s unheard of https://t.co/RJ0LyLVnkz“That might be the nicest and most respectful handshake Jelena had given over the last few years lmao,” another fan observed.huac@huacommittee@WTA @JelenaOstapenk8 That might be the nicest and most respectful handshake Jelena had given over the last few years lmao231@WTA @JelenaOstapenk8 That might be the nicest and most respectful handshake Jelena had given over the last few years lmaoHere are a few more reactions from tennis fans:ostaveit@iamgomas@FlopMerchant The power mother has on her is unheard of@FlopMerchant The power mother has on her is unheard ofKat Hazzard 🤦🏾&zwj;♀️²⁸ - One Direction Encyclopedia@Kitty_16She respects the queen. twitter.com/flopmerchant/s…Lucas@FlopMerchantAre my eyes working? Since when does penko smile and give a genuine handshake? I mean Venus is mother but still that’s unheard of27Are my eyes working? Since when does penko smile and give a genuine handshake? I mean Venus is mother but still that’s unheard of https://t.co/RJ0LyLVnkzShe respects the queen. twitter.com/flopmerchant/s…¿@kvitovaserenaI love how Ostapenko always admires Venus and Serena twitter.com/wta/status/167…wta@WTAA breathtaking encounter &zwj;No.2 seed @JelenaOstapenk8 recovers against Williams and moves into a third career Birmingham quarterfinal!#RothesayClassic127A breathtaking encounter 😮&zwj;💨No.2 seed @JelenaOstapenk8 recovers against Williams and moves into a third career Birmingham quarterfinal!#RothesayClassic https://t.co/Ue5MlYGtfsI love how Ostapenko always admires Venus and Serena 😌 twitter.com/wta/status/167…Serena's snatched wig@Danidilo2Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters52758Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters https://t.co/QZyckRqvz8Jennifer O'Neill@Jennife02085318@Danidilo2 Penko doesn’t look at anyone at the net like this . I’ve got a lot of respect for Penko , yeah she’s a crabbit wee rabbit at times but she’s had more than her fair share of hatred towards her - mostly for weight and looks which is not on 5@Danidilo2 Penko doesn’t look at anyone at the net like this . I’ve got a lot of respect for Penko , yeah she’s a crabbit wee rabbit at times but she’s had more than her fair share of hatred towards her - mostly for weight and looks which is not on 😡Cas@AO_SW19This is why I always forgive her after their matches - plus she wacked Halep for me so she gets a pass twitter.com/danidilo2/stat…Serena's snatched wig@Danidilo2Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters1758Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters https://t.co/QZyckRqvz8This is why I always forgive her after their matches - plus she wacked Halep for me so she gets a pass twitter.com/danidilo2/stat… https://t.co/nUn0GVy2x1Jess 🍵@jessica4steinTT seem surprised that Penko can be respectful. She always respects talents and legends. Only basics and pushers that she doesn't know or care about.211TT seem surprised that Penko can be respectful. She always respects talents and legends. Only basics and pushers that she doesn't know or care about. https://t.co/1VPveuzVcXAutistic Tennis Fan@AutisticTennisNgl I’ve got a bit of love for Ostapenko after that She grinned at Venus like a schoolgirl at the net And thank YOU, Venus Williams. You will always be famous. You are legend493Ngl I’ve got a bit of love for Ostapenko after that She grinned at Venus like a schoolgirl at the net And thank YOU, Venus Williams. You will always be famous. You are legendMelly@JamseshLThey are the only ones she looks at like that lol twitter.com/danidilo2/stat…Serena's snatched wig@Danidilo2Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters52758Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters https://t.co/QZyckRqvz8They are the only ones she looks at like that lol twitter.com/danidilo2/stat…daniella gana@DaniellaGanaqueen recognise queen twitter.com/danidilo2/stat…Serena's snatched wig@Danidilo2Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters258Find someone who looks at you the way Jelena Ostapenko looks at the Williams sisters https://t.co/QZyckRqvz8queen recognise queen 👑 twitter.com/danidilo2/stat…&quot;It's great to play against players like her&quot; – Jelena Ostapenko after win against Venus WilliamsJelena Ostapenko at the 2023 Birmingham ClassicJelena Ostapenko may not have the best relations with majority of her colleagues, but she has always shown her respect towards the Williams sisters.After her latest win, the 26-year-old expressed her admiration for Venus Williams. She stated that she looks forward to sharing the court with legends like the seven-time Major winner.“She’s a great champion and that hasn’t gone anywhere and it’s always gonna be with her,” Ostapenko said in her on-court interview. “I mean, she’s an idol for a lot of people. It’s great to play against players like her.”The 2017 French Open champion also revealed Serena Williams to be her idol growing up.“My idol was always Serena and I was always watching her. And the way she was just on the court firing it up and all the emotions – I really love it. And I think that’s what makes tennis a great game,” she said.Jelena Ostapenko is in pursuit of her second career grasscourt title at the ongoing 2023 Birmingham Classic. The former World No. 5 was the 2021 champion at the Eastbourne International.The one-time Grand Slam champion will look to go deeper in the warm-up events before heading to the Wimbledon championships, where she has been the quarterfinalist in 2017 and the semifinalist in 2018.Ostapenko will face off against Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Birmingham Classic on June 23.

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