Monday 14 January 2019

AO - Nadal d Duckworth - looking good

Second match on RLA saw Australian wildcard James Duckworth in a huge challenge against world number two Rafa Nadal.


Meanwhile, in other results:

Caroline Garcia (19) defeated qualifier Jessika Ponchet 6-2 6-3

Aryna Sabalenka (11) defeated qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-1 6-4

Donna Vekic (29) defeated Kiki Mladenovic 6-2 6-4

Petra Martic (31) defeated Heather Watson 6-1 6-2

Rebecca Peterson defeated Sorana Cîrstea 6-4 6-1

Marketa Vondrousova defeated Evgeniya Rodina 6-3 6-2


Duckworth served first - backhand winner settled the nerves, but only for a second, as errors brought up two break points for Nadal.  A well struck backhand saved one, a double fault surrendered the game.  Nadal ahead 1-0

A Spanish ace for 30-0, and an Aussie forehand return winner highlighted an easy hold for Nadal and 2-0.

Erratic play by Duckworth was stopped with two winning points, and his attacking approach worked ok until Nadal passed him at the net.

Two more impressive points and Duckworth was on the board.

Quality forehand and backhand from Nadal 3-1.


A Duckworth double fault and 15-30.  Break point saved with an ace.  Excellent service hold and 2-3.

Duckworth, lucky with a net cord, had Nadal down 0-30 on serve.  However, four poorly played points by Duckworth gave away the game and Nadal maintained the break.

A sizzling backhand cross court sent Duckworth to 40-15, and a top volley produced a Spanish mistake and games were 4-3 to Spain, serve to come.


A love game clinched with a superb forehand down the line boosted Nadal to 5-3.

A Duckworth ace and 30-15.  A failed drop shot was followed by two more aces, and forced Nadal to serve for the set.

This was accomplished and the second seed led 6-4


A Nadal forehand set up break point in game one of set two.  An ace saved it.  Game point with a brilliant net play from Duckworth.  Serve held with a backhand winner.

Nadal netted a Duckworth return, and an Australian return winner had the Spaniard down 15-30.  When Rafa hit the bottom of the net with his backhand, James had a break point.  A drop shot caused an error and Duckworth led 2-0.

Up 40-0, Duckworth buckled under pressure that wasn’t really there, throwing in careless unforced errors before being passed by a whipping backhand down the line.

A double fault and down break point.  Nadal pounced and was back on serve 1-2.


A comfortable hold for Nadal and 2-2. Being overwhelmed by Spanish winners, Duckworth stuck to his game plan and apart from two bad mistakes which presented Nadal with a break chance, the Australian continued attacking.  He saved the break point, and one other, eventually holding serve, a backhand winner key.

Nadal levelled in an instant, and again Duckworth struggled on serve, saving a break point but finally relenting to the Nadal pressure.  4-3 Nadal.


A rough chance for Duckworth with Nadal 0-30, but chances disappearing again.  A backhand return winner brought up break point.  Nadal saved it with a forehand winner. An ace for the game point. Converted and 5-3.

Double fault set the scene in the next Duckworth service game, and a Nadal backhand return winner brought set two within two points.

Two set points thanks to a forehand return killer.

Double fault and Nadal led 6-4 6-3


The first upset of the Open occurred while Nadal was doing his business:

Danielle Collins defeated Julia Goerges (14) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4


The third set opened with six solid service holds, but Duckworth was playing catch up.  

A backhand winner and an even better forehand took Nadal to break point.  A classic forehand pass clinched the break and Spain led 4-2.

From 40-0, Nadal lost concentration, and deuce arrived, including the first double fault off the Spanish racquet. Nevertheless Nadal held for 5-2, a backhand pass the highlight.

Duckworth held and forced Nadal to serve for a second round berth.

Against all the run of play, Duckworth hit a return winner after winning the first point.  Then he won a net exchange to produce three break points.  The break came off the first and games were back on serve.

5-5 after Duckworth held.

15-30 and Nadal under pressure, but as so often big serves helped, and he led 6-5.


15-40 after a Duckworth double fault, and two match points for Nadal.

The win with a standard backhand passing shot.  6-4 6-3 7-5.

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