Jelena Ostapenko labels US Open scheduling as 'strange' following emphatic quarter-final defeat

The 26-year-old had finished her previous match at around midnight on Sunday evening, and revealed that she was 'surprised' to see herself scheduled to play Gauff at midday on Tuesday.

“I felt like I didn’t recover from that night. I got back to the hotel around 2 a.m.. When you go to sleep at 5 or 6 a.m. you need a few days just to recover.," explained Ostapenko.

She continued, "If I play a late night session, in one day I have to play at the same time or later. Because you don’t have much time to recover. I think the schedule was better for her, because she played much earlier the day I played a night session.

“When I asked the day before, I was pretty sure I’d play a night session, because that’s what they told me. When the schedule came out, I saw I was playing first match. I was like ‘Wow. That’s a little bit strange scheduling.’ I was surprised. Not in a good way.”

While Gauff's fourth round singles match did not finish as late as Ostapenko's, she did compete in doubles action alongside Jessica Pegula on Monday.

However, the 19-year-old appeared to see where the Latvian was coming from, “Yeah, it’s definitely a valid thing. I remember in Montreal I had to play Marketa [Vondrousova] and we finished around 11. I played the next day at one or two. 

"I do think with the day in between it helps a bit. But also, Grand Slams are tough. She had to play the second night match. I had doubles yesterday and I have doubles tomorrow so I get the feeling and the way of playing back to back."

Gauff added, "Honestly, yesterday was a concern of mine when I found out I was playing first. I definitely can understand that point of view for sure.”

By reaching her maiden semi-final at the US Open, Gauff becomes the first teenager to do so since Serena Williams in 2001.

The WTA No.6 revealed that it was an honour to be compared to her 'idol', “Oh, it means a lot to me. I mean, being in any sentence with her is great.

“I mean, she’s the greatest player of all time. You know, I’m nothing close to that yet. I’m just really honored to be in the same sentence as her. It’s something that I’m used to a lot. So, you know, I’m not going to sit here and be like, 'Oh, I’m shocked', but I feel like a lot of the stats have aligned with her, and people find new things to think about.

Gauff concluded, “I was the first teenager in the quarters and now semis, so I’m guessing if I win they’re going to be, like, finals. It’s just going to keep going. Like I said, I never take it for granted.She’s my idol. I think if you told me when I was younger that I would be in these same stat lines as her, I would freak out.

"I’m still trying not to think about it a lot, because I don’t want to get my head big or add pressure, but it is a cool moment to have that stat alongside her.”

If Gauff is to become to follow the footsteps of Williams and reach the final she will need to overcome Karolina Muchova, who she beat in the recent Cincinnati final, on Thursday.