TENNIS fans were left gobsmacked by a stunning double fault by a former Grand Slam winner.
Jelena Ostapenko was left red-faced at the Eastbourne Rothesay International by a straight sets defeat to Brit star Katie Boulter on Wednesday.
Jelena Ostapenko was in action on Day Four of the Rothesay International in Eastbourne[/caption] The Latvian locked horns with Brit Katie Poulter[/caption]But much of her embarrassment stemmed from a sensational double fault in the match.
Much to the shock of tennis fans in attendance and those watching at home, Ostapenko failed to find her target service box during a crucial deuce in the opening set’s ninth game.
The failure was made even worse by the fact she completely missed the box next to it.
Fans around the world gasped at the 2017 French Open winner’s gaffe.
One asked on social media: “Can she even play tennis?”
Another said: “Ostapenko hitting perhaps the worst double fault of all time.
“It didn’t even make it into the wrong service box.”
And another said: “We’ve all done this at least once in a game.”
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Katie Boulter celebrates her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jelena Ostapenlo[/caption]Boulter fended off a second-set fightback from Ostapenko to claim the biggest victory of her career, winning 6-4, 7-5.
She goes into the opening week of Wimbledon in fine form following summer victories over Emma Raducanu and Ostapenko.
She said of her recent triumphs: “It’s definitely taken a lot of pressure off me.
“This season is a slightly different situation for me.
“Today was a match I had nothing to lose, just swinging and having fun.”