Halep defeats Davis in epic

First up on RLA on Day Six was top seed Simona Halep from Romania, doing battle with unseeded Lauren Davis from the US.

Having a problem with an ankle injury suffered in her first round match, Halep has managed her way through to this clash, but the question is can her talent alone carry her over the line today ?

Davis won the opening game, solving a deuce issue, and a Halep backhand winner saved the top seed from a break of her initial serve.

1-1.

The second exchange of serves was easier, but Halep was first to deliver a break of serve in game five. Three American errors contributed. 3-2 Halep.

A backhand winner from Davis brought up two break back points and she converted the second for 3-3.

4-4 came and went before Davis struck once more - at 4-5 Halep committed three errors to set up two break points.  

A Davis winning forehand on the first won the game and set 6-4.

A problem now for the world number one.

Davis held serve solidly to start set two but after Halep held comfortably, Davis lost her momentum and her serve - from 15-40 four straight points lost, the last with a double fault.

A love game consolidated the break and Davis then held for 2-3.

Halep saved a break point to make it 4-2, and Davis saved three to progress to 3-4.

At 5-4 Halep served to level the match - 3 unforced errors from Davis brought up 3 set points and Halep hit a backhand winner immediately.

The top seed was even at 4-6 6-4.

The decider was 1-1 after easy holds from both players.

Madison Keys (17) defeated Ana Bogdan 6-3 6-4.

The third game could well have been the match decider as Halep broke to love - all points a result of American unforced errors.

Another love game on serve and the lead for Simona was 3-1.

After Halep won her tenth point in succession, Davis steadied to hold for 2-3.

Two break back points - both saved. Another one created with a volley winner. Saved. A forehand forced an error and a fourth break chance.

Saved. Fifth chance taken and 3-3.

Two forehand winners, thwarted by a double fault, didn’t stop Davis launching to 4-3.

Halep regrouped and held strongly for 4-4.  

A backhand winner from Halep and an unforced error from Davis had the American down two break points. One was saved, the second not.

Halep served for the match - opening point to the top seed, then a double fault.

Break point after Halep error - games 5-5 following break of serve.

Two more break points for Halep and a second chance to serve for the fourth round.

Breaks of serve all over the place as Halep failed again to serve it out.

6-6.

7-7 with easy service holds at last.

However, Halep used the second of two break pointe to lead 8-7 and have a third crack at serving it out.

No luck for Simona again - 8-8.

After a long game and three break points, Lauren held serve and led 9-8.

Trading forehand errors it was 15-15.

Winners from both sides by Davis and deuce - Halep did well to hold and 9-9.

10-9 Davis and Halep 15-30 serving to stay in the match.

Two errors from Davis and game point - saved.

Another chance for Halep to even things but deuce again - ace and off forehand winner. 10-10.

30-30 and problems for Davis - but attacking worked for 40-30 and then the game. 11-10.

Ripping Davis backhand. 0-30, then three match points.

All saved.

Eventually 11-11.

Medical timeout for Davis. Back on court in strife at 15-30.

Double fault and two break points. One saved. And the second.

A third break chance. Saved. Fourth and fifth break points saved.

A remarkable service hold - correction: this match has gone beyond anything remarkable - and Davis led 12-11.

Karolina Pliskova (6) defeated Lucie Safarova (29) 7-6(6) 7-5 in an all Czech clash.

Davis led 13-12 after two comfortable service games. 

30-30 on Halep’s serve and she managed to hold for 13-13.

Davis lost the opening point on her next serve. And 0-30.

A third forced error and three break points.

One saved. Not the second and for the fourth time Halep would serve for the match. This time she looked the fitter player..

15-0 the ideal start but a netted shot from Halep complicated things somewhat. 30-30 after a netted shot from Davis.

Match point for Halep. A wide shot from Davis and the epic was finished.

Halep the victor 4-6 6-4 15-13 in three and three quarter hours.