ROME, ItalyâJelena Ostapenkoâs favorite holiday is fast approaching but for the first time, sheâs not looking forward to it.
âOh my god, donât remind me about my birthday,â laughed the former Roland Garros champion. âI donât want to get one year older!â
The 27-year-old has traditionally celebrated her birthday in style, hosting âSweet 16â style bashes in her home city of Rigaâparties that require weeks of planning.
âI always like to have the local artists,â she told me back in 2022. âThereâs one, Intars Busulis, who always sings on my birthday. Heâs from Latvia, and weâre really good friends. We always have so much fun and heâs really amazing, the way he pumps up the people and everyone starts to dance. Every party should be like that.â