"Jelena Ostapenko would've smashed racket into that little girl if she had to face 3 breakpoints" - Fans joke about Latvian's exchange with ball kid

Jelena Ostapenko's exchange with a ball kid at the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships has sparked hilarious reactions from tennis fans.

Ninth seed Ostapenko squared off against Xiyu Wang in the WTA 1000 event's first round on Monday, February 19. The Latvian started on the back foot, as she struggled to keep up with her opponent's strong serve. Wang struck six aces to claim the opening set.

However, Ostapenko staged a comeback in the second set. She broke early, courtesy a couple of double faults from the Chinese. The 26-year-old maintained her momentum in the third set and eventually won the match 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Midway through the third set, a ball kid accidentally bumped into Ostapenko. But the Latvian, known for her aggressive approach and antics on-court, dealt with the situation pleasantly. She held the girl before letting out a warm smile.

Just a few days ago, Ostapenko was involved in a controversy with Victoria Azarenka at the Qatar Open. Presumably frustrated by her defeat, she offered her racket to Azarenka for a tap instead of a proper handshake. The Latvian's behavior did not sit well with fans.

That said, Ostapenko's exchange with the ball kid in Dubai has got fans on social media posting hilarious comments on her contrasting behavior. One fan joked that Ostapenko would have "smashed" her racket on the kid if she was three break points down.

"She would've smashed her racket into that little girl if she had to face 3 BPs I just know it," the fan wrote on X.

Another fan claimed the ball kid was "lucky" that Ostapenko was kind to her.

"She's very kind to the ball kid. Lucky ball kid," the fan's tweet read.

Here are a few more fan reactions:

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"I thought the score was 5-2" - Jelena Ostapenko admits she lost track of the score towards the end of the match

Jelena Ostapenko in action at the 2024 Dubai Duty Tennis Championships

Jelena Ostapenko later said she had lost track of the score toward the end of her first-round match against Xiyu Wang at the Dubai Tennis Championships. During her on-court interview, the Latvian admitted she thought the score was 5-2 in the final set when it was actually 6-3.

"I thought the score was 5-2, and when it was 6-3, I was like, 'What's happening?'" Ostapenko said.

Ostapenko added that she was all set to continue playing while the match was already over.

"It's the first time I miscounted the score in my life, maybe since juniors. I was ready to play more, and the match was already over!" she said.

Jelena Ostapenko will next face Lulu Sun in the second round. This will be their first meeting on the tour.