Ostapenko Beats Larsson Who Tells Swedish Media She is Gay at WTA Seoul
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Reigning French Open champion and No. 1 seed Jelena Ostapenko won on Tuesday at the Korea Open WTA event in Seoul, defeating Swden’s Johanna Larsson 7-6(6), 6-1 to move into the second round.
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The match was more significant for Larsson telling the local Swedish media that she is gay.
“I kept my first relationship secret from everyone for two years before the situation got untenable. It was horrible to lie,” she told Sweden’s SVT TV. “I remember once that my mother had asked me if I met a woman and I denied it. I closed in upon myself, and I had no choice. My mum’s reaction was unbelievable, she told me ‘I love you no matter what.'”
Larsson said part of keeping the secret so long was lying to herself, and part of it was fear of losing sponsorships.
Ostapenko avoided a rash of upsets Tuesday as No. 2 Kiki Bertens fell to Dutch countrywoman Richel Hogenkamp 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, No. 3 Kristyna Pliskova lost to Korean wildcard Na-Lae Han, and No. 8 Christina Mchale fell to Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus.
The 25-year-old Han delighted the home crowd against the big-serving Pliskova whose sister is a former world No. 1 earlier this year. Han entered the tournament ranked No. 274.
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