BEIJING -- Jelena Ostapenko, currently ranked World No. 32 on the WTA Tour, is expanding her interests beyond tennis. She has launched a merchandise line and a personal baking Instagram account, and recently began sharing day-in-the-life content on social media, inspired by her personal assistant's advice.

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Ostapenko has started posting a variety of short travel videos, including a recent visit to Niagara Falls. Initially reluctant to increase her social media presence, she embraced the idea and has been pleased with the results, especially on TikTok where some videos have garnered over 300,000 views.

"I was like, 'No, I don't want it, I don't want it.' Then at some point, I was like, 'Okay, let's see how it goes,'" Ostapenko said following her second-round victory at the China Open. She expressed excitement about sharing more behind-the-scenes moments with her fans.

In her recent match, Ostapenko defeated Paula Badosa 7-6(5), 7-5, marking her fourth win over the Spaniard. Looking forward to a third-round matchup against Elise Mertens, she reflected on her appreciation for Chinese fans, describing the atmosphere as reminiscent of a "second home" where she feels warmly received.

"The Chinese fans are super special for me, and today I felt an amazing atmosphere. I felt I'm playing in my second home," Ostapenko stated, noting the significance of the personalized gifts she has received.

In contrast, Maria Sakkari, now ranked No. 33 and the No. 25 seed in Beijing, is shifting her approach to tennis by moving away from an obsession with rankings. After reaching No. 51 at the United Cup in Perth nine months ago, she has focused on strategy rather than simply chasing points.

"In the beginning of the year, I had this obsession about getting back to the top. I feel I've done really well just not thinking about it. It's kind of irrelevant right now," Sakkari said after her 6-2, 6-2 win over Storm Hunter. She acknowledged that rankings have implications for tournament entries and seeding but is prioritizing enjoyment over pressure.

Sakkari also expressed her appreciation for the Asian Swing, which allows her to compete without the pressure of an upcoming Grand Slam. "I never played the lead-up tournaments thinking that it's a Slam coming up," she noted, highlighting the benefits of pushing oneself during this challenging period.

Sakkari's next match will be against No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina, who recently won her match against Katerina Siniakova.