Jelena Ostapenko raised eyebrows on Wednesday afternoon after sending a string of confusing signals in the direction of her player box during her Wimbledon quarter-final against Barbora Krejcikova.
The former world No 5 was 4-3 up in the second set after losing the first to her Czech opponent, but growing increasingly frustrated as Krejcikova battled back from being a break behind.
During the change of ends, Ostapenko made for her chair and began signalling furiously to her team up in the stands – with it taking a few moments for the penny to drop amongst her entourage.
The 27-year-old motioned that one of the team should leave with a dismissive flick of her hand, but there was some confusion as to who the gesture was directed at.
After internal discussion, however, it was her coach Stas Khmarsky who was given his marching orders, with the Ukrainian leaving the box for the remainder of the tie.
The scenes were picked up on BBC’s coverage of the quarter-final, with commentator Pete Odgers noting there is ‘never a dull moment’ watching the tempestuous Latvian.
‘She’s motioning to her box – not sure if she was motioning for someone to leave but right now she’s not happy,’ Odgers noted.
‘She shouldn’t worry about who is leaving and who is staying,’ co-commentator Tracy Austin added. ‘She needs to realise she’s still ahead in this set and focus on tactics and cleaning up her game.’
Following Khmarsky’s depature, things went from bad to worse for the 2017 French Open winner, who lost the next four straight games to her opponent.
Battling back to reclaim a 6-5 lead in the second, Krecjikova eventually got onto level footing, and carried the ensuing tiebreak.
The world No 25 will play her first Wimbledon semi-final against 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, after the Kazakh’s straight-sets victory against Elina Svitolina.
Ostapenko’s brusque dismissal is not the first time that her team have received the short shrift while their player is on court.
At this year’s Australian Open, Ostapenko demanded her entire team leave the stadium during her deciding set against Ajla Tomljanovic, pointing at each of the members of her box and telling them to leave.
Ostapenko went on to win 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 in the second-round clash.
