The second match on Rod Laver Arena on night two featured two not so high profile players - Shelby Rogers from the US and the Croatian born Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. Both girls sit outside the top fifty but evenly matched so the prospects of a close encounter were good.
The opening stanza went to serve, but it was Shelby who looked the more composed as she forced Ajla into error or won points in her own right - Ajla tended to rely on Shleby's mistakes to score her successes.
The fourth game confirmed the trend when Ajla threw in two double faults in a terrible game which resulted in a 3-1 lead to Shelby. This eked out to 4-1 with the consolidating service hold and at 0-40 Ajla was staring at a first set dismissal.
Amazingly the Australian settled into a rhythm and the match took on a new flavour. Alja started placing her shots better, giving Shelby less time to swing and the American errors flowed more frequently. The second service break was avoided and the doubts created in Rogers continued into the following game where she committed unforced errors to donate the break to Tomljanovic. What was likely to be 5-1 now was 4-3 with Ajla dictating the terms.
A long eighth game brought it to 4-4 and just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, shark Shelby returned, nipping at the heels of Ajla, an uncomfortable position from which to win games of tennis.
Serving to stay in the set, Ajla was overpowered by a resurgent Rogers forehand and the set was US bound 6-4.
The second set began with two deuce games before Ajla made the first break to lead 2-1, that game also filled with deuces. The tennis was quite good now with both girls contributing their best simultaneously, rather than one or the other. Shelby broke back in the sixth game, a double fault not helping Ajla at all, but the break was reinstated in the next game, three double faults from Shelby proving disastrous.
Games went with serve for the remainder, Ajla playing with much more freedom and having little difficulty levelling the match at 4-6 6-4.
Shelby went missing in the third set and the mystery is as yet unsolved. While Ajla's standard of tennis was progressing nicely on a slow trajectory upwards, Shelby lost her bearings completely and everything she attempted came to nothing.
The sudden end to the match was a shame because the contest for two sets was entertaining.
Ajla Tomljanovic indeed has some talent, and is capable of reaching the third round following her 4-6 6-4 6-0 triumph.
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Hewitt survives backhand barrage
We don't see as much of Lleyton Hewitt these days - he tends to hibernate for most of the year, mainly coming out for special events such as the Australian Open, and then usually at night. His appearances are usually brief compared to the glory days when a fortnight of sightings were the norm, but local tennis fans have maintained an interest in his prospects for what is his 19th successive Melbourne Park gig.
The opposition for Hewitt in the first night match on Rod Laver Arena on the second day of competition comprised the Chinese player 10 years his junior - Zhang Ze. On paper, the Australian started favourite, for although ranked 87, he still was 100 places higher than the 24 year old.
The nerves of both players dominated the early going, eased somewhat for Hewitt with an ace which secured the opening game. a bunch of careless wayward shots cost Zhang his first service game and Hewitt extended the lead to 3-0, attacking the backhand with success.
Zhang held serve to register his first score, finding his range with some hard hit ground strokes and in the fifth game a shock to everyone when Hewitt was broken to love, courtesy of some withering passing shots to both sides. The match returned to an even keel after a couple of Chinese aces highlighted the sixth game, and in a short space, Hewitt had become the player in defence.
Using his wealth of experience, Lleyton changed it up this time testing out the Zhang forehand and holding to love before piling on the pressure in the eighth game which ultimately saw a double fault from Zhang give a 5-3 position of authority to the local favourite.
Hewitt served out the set with no complication 6-3.
The second set began with two games going to deuce and surprisingly both were won by Zhang, who with the break and leading 2-0 decided to give the audience an exhibition of his talents. Over the next three games his heavy hitting and accurate ground strokes, especially the backhand, overwhelmed a helpless Hewitt whose impotency in the face of the onslaught was stark.
Before we all could complete a blink, Lleyton was 0-5 and 15-40. He managed to extricate himself from the immediate danger, largely due to Zhang mistakes, but the bigger problem was confirmed the very next game as Zhang served out the set 6-1, winning it appropriately with a slashing backhand.
The third set was a disaster for Zhang and a reminder of the player Hewitt has been - there were no mistakes from the Australian and no loss of games, as he just kept putting ball after ball back into play, exasperating Zhang into repeated unforced error, unable to handle the variation of slice and spin and placement.
Less than half an hour was required for Lleyton to have the match clearly back on his terms.
The fourth set appeared to heading in a similar direction after Hewitt achieved 3-0, but to his credit Zhang chipped away, again finding the sweet spot with his ground strokes and eventually cracking open the Australian serve in the seventh game, another backhand deciding the game.
At 4-5, Zhang had 30-0 but Hewitt kept the pressure on and eventually deuce was reached - 4 times it was reached - before a ripping forehand winner set up a fifth match point which Hewitt converted to take the match 6-4 1-6 6-0 6-4
But for a lousy third set Hewitt played pretty well in the face of some excellent if not consistent hitting from Zhang Ze.
The opposition for Hewitt in the first night match on Rod Laver Arena on the second day of competition comprised the Chinese player 10 years his junior - Zhang Ze. On paper, the Australian started favourite, for although ranked 87, he still was 100 places higher than the 24 year old.
The nerves of both players dominated the early going, eased somewhat for Hewitt with an ace which secured the opening game. a bunch of careless wayward shots cost Zhang his first service game and Hewitt extended the lead to 3-0, attacking the backhand with success.
Zhang held serve to register his first score, finding his range with some hard hit ground strokes and in the fifth game a shock to everyone when Hewitt was broken to love, courtesy of some withering passing shots to both sides. The match returned to an even keel after a couple of Chinese aces highlighted the sixth game, and in a short space, Hewitt had become the player in defence.
Using his wealth of experience, Lleyton changed it up this time testing out the Zhang forehand and holding to love before piling on the pressure in the eighth game which ultimately saw a double fault from Zhang give a 5-3 position of authority to the local favourite.
Hewitt served out the set with no complication 6-3.
The second set began with two games going to deuce and surprisingly both were won by Zhang, who with the break and leading 2-0 decided to give the audience an exhibition of his talents. Over the next three games his heavy hitting and accurate ground strokes, especially the backhand, overwhelmed a helpless Hewitt whose impotency in the face of the onslaught was stark.
Before we all could complete a blink, Lleyton was 0-5 and 15-40. He managed to extricate himself from the immediate danger, largely due to Zhang mistakes, but the bigger problem was confirmed the very next game as Zhang served out the set 6-1, winning it appropriately with a slashing backhand.
The third set was a disaster for Zhang and a reminder of the player Hewitt has been - there were no mistakes from the Australian and no loss of games, as he just kept putting ball after ball back into play, exasperating Zhang into repeated unforced error, unable to handle the variation of slice and spin and placement.
Less than half an hour was required for Lleyton to have the match clearly back on his terms.
The fourth set appeared to heading in a similar direction after Hewitt achieved 3-0, but to his credit Zhang chipped away, again finding the sweet spot with his ground strokes and eventually cracking open the Australian serve in the seventh game, another backhand deciding the game.
At 4-5, Zhang had 30-0 but Hewitt kept the pressure on and eventually deuce was reached - 4 times it was reached - before a ripping forehand winner set up a fifth match point which Hewitt converted to take the match 6-4 1-6 6-0 6-4
But for a lousy third set Hewitt played pretty well in the face of some excellent if not consistent hitting from Zhang Ze.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Casey flies the Aussie flag
She made the fourth round here last year and that combined with other good results sees Casey Dellacqua earning a ranking of 29 and seeding of the same number. Her first round opponent was the veteran Yvonne Meusberger from Austria, not expected to pose too much grief for the left handed West Australian who had gathered a large personal following over her years on the tour.
A win for Casey would mean a third women from Australia through to the second round on the back of Gajdosova and Stosur, and the 3-0 start with a break of Meusberger in the second game coincided with that plan. The serve was solid and dictated many of the rallies with which the two became involved, and Meusberger often found herself out of position and easy prey to a finishing shot either down the line or cross court, depending on Casey's humour.
Meusberger decided to enter the match in the third game and pushed Dellacqua in most aspects, the exchanges of a fairly high standard generally. Casey handed back her advantage in the seventh game with some injudicious choices in response to some better placement from the Austrian. The service break formed the catalyst for three more of the same to follow, the final of the quartet enough to end the first set 6-4 Casey's way.
While her service was being broken during this period, the other components of the Australian's game remained firm and her belief in herself never wavered, as evidenced by her onslaught at the start of set two which belied the apparent evenness of the first set battle. Casey raced to a 3-0 lead (repeat of set one) with her backhand firing and Yvonne serving two double faults on the way to a complete service breakdown.
Nothing changed - except for Casey introducing some forehand winners to accompany her lethal backhands, and Yvonne was powerless to prevent the 6-4 6-0 result, punctuated with a backhand winner to seal the deal.
An impressive showing from Dellacqua after a steady start, and with her seeding and good hometown record, she should expect to see at least third round action, likely against another left hander Petra Kvitova and that would be an entertaining affair.
Caro aiming higher
After a fine second half of 2014, which included having had to play Serena Williams more times than any single human should, Caroline Wozniacki has begun 2015 with a final in Auckland and potential to enjoy even greater success than last year.
If that is to include the Australian Open, then good friend Serena will most likely be blocking the path again as the two are seeded to play in the quarter finals. That friendship is being stretched with the draws continuing to match them against each other.
However way before that possibility, Caro needed to account for another American, young and talented Taylor Townsend, ranked 99 and the player with whom Caro dispensed in the round of 16 in Auckland.
Both girls began shakily, struggling to dominate in any shape or form on serve. In fact, after Caro managed to scrape together enough points to register a service hold, the first break of the match was hers and she led 2-0 although not convincing anybody of anything to that point.
The two did settle and the left handed Townsend displayed a preparedness to approach the net, a habit that the Danish racquet twirler found troubling on more than one occasion, and Caro dropped her serve for a 2-2 scoreline.
Service was threatened for much of the next stanza but the pair managed to protect their interests, all the while participating in some interesting but not overly inspiring tennis. The left hand v right hand was intriguing and Wozniacki did not handle it as well as she might, especially the serve.
Wozniacki did steady through her crises and so did the young player, and a tie breaker had to separate them. Here the experience and poise of the eighth seed shone through and Caro rushed past the American to hold a 7-6 advantage.
The occasion plus a clutch of unforced errors from Taylor Townsend, together with a more fluent performance from Caroline Wozniacki contributed to a less competitive second set. Still attacking the net, poor volleying negated the effectiveness of the teenager's tactic and Wozniacki found it increasingly easy to counter. A break to build the pressure even further was compounded in the seventh game, and the finish line appeared only metres away for Wozniacki whose ground strokes had improved as the match progressed.
The final score of 7-6 6-2 is probably a little flattering, but Caro did finish full of running. Taylor Townsend though has a load of inate talent and potential and could be a future star.
Nishikori fires a warning
Spain's Nicolas Almagro should have all the hallmarks of a clay courter, and indeed is at home on that surface, yet he is different from the scores of top level players produced from the long successful mould - for one he has a single handed back hand, and he has a more than useful big first serve, two attributes which would need to be in top shape should he be a realistic challenger to Kei Nishikori in the first round match first up on Margaret Court Arena on Day Two.
Nishikori, whose stellar 2014 saw him reach the US Open Final and finish top five in the world, possesses a Djokovic-like game in some respects, but relies on a difficult to handle serve to win many of his points, and in the early stages of the match, it was a servers party, with both men enjoying several free points with their potent deliveries.
Other than that, the rallies were predominantly baseline, and the ball was battered mercilessly in the empire raining exchanges, mostly terminated with winners or forced errors. Although Nishikori reads the ball well he still could play from slightly closer in to the baseline to be able to give servers less time to react to the return - this is one of the reasons Djokovic is the best.
Nine games went by and nothing indicated what was about to unfold in the tenth. The hitherto solid groundstrokes of Almagro began to go astray, only partly due to the pressure from Nishikori's racquet. Set points were saved but not enough and Kei Nishikori had won the vital opener from out of the blue 6-4.
The standard of tennis continued its downward spiral temporarily in the opening game of set two as Nishikori caught the inconsistency bug and was looking down the barrel of a break of serve. He gathered himself and led 1-0, serving and forehand to the fore. Games were on serve for awhile, the tennis at times reaching the levels of the early stages of the match.
At 2-2 Nishikori again had the wobbles, these ones from which he could not recover, and Almagro raced in to pick up the scraps and lead 3-2. Nicolas then began missing his first serve and his ground shots developed a sameness and predictability whilst Nishikori regained his variety of shot making, making it difficult for the Spanish player to make any impact. Accordingly the break back occurred and soon after the 4-3 advantage to Japan.
The key eighth game took what seemed an eternity to conclude, with both having several chances to prevail. Finally Nishikori claimed another break, a 5-3 lead and the right to serve for the set.
The ninth game included another revival from Almagro, denying for now Nishikori's claims to the second set and precipitating a manic run of exhilarating tennis. Almagro rushed the net and covered the rest of the court playing shots possibly yet seen on this planet to even up the set at 5-5 and have Nishikori in bother at 0-30.
This sparked Kei into action and the two managed to do sufficiently to necessitate a tie break. Bar one forced error, the fifth seed played a faultless breaker and now had a firm grip on the match 6-4 7-6 (1).
Almagro had little more to give - well nothing that could endanger Nishikori who straight away broke the Spaniard in the opening game of the what would prove to be final set. Another break of serve and before long it was 5-1 and Almagro praying for a miracle.
Nishikori played high standard tennis throughout, only dropping his guard for a couple of brief periods. Almagro provided a useful first round hit out but after a great start found his limitations too easily exploitable by an elite player. Nishikori 6-4 7-6 (1) 6-2
Sharapova avoids seeds carnage
The bottom of the women's draw in the 2015 Aus Open is littered with seeds tossed from the tournament after day one - 7 of the sixteen are gone including two top ten players, one of whom (Ana Ivanovic) the player Maria Sharapova defeated in 3 sets in Brisbane only days ago.
There was no way that Maria as number two seed was going to follow the other seven out the door when she agreed to take on the task of playing Croatia's Petra Martic in the second night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Martic had a very good year in 2012, achieving some memorable victories over top players and reaching her career high ranking of 42. Alas, she has now dropped back into the bottom part of the top 200 and really no one expected anything but a brutal meeting with the ruthless Russian tonight.
To her credit, Petra served it up to Sharapova in the first set, and although clearly lacking the talent and firepower she managed to lessen the gap by attempting to keep points short, often using the serve volley route to end points. Maria played pretty much within herself and the winning shots flowed, too much so in the sixth game where the initial break occurred.
4-2 evolved into 5-2 with the next service hold and Martic did well to stay in the set by evading another break to linger behind 3-5.
Sharapova had the jitters when attempting to put the set away, and eyebrows were raised when Martic actually achieved a break of her own.
Dirty on herself for the misstep, Maria lifted and won the next game to lock away set one 6-4.
Still very much annoyed at her concentration lapse, Maria Sharapova proceeded to prove why she is where she is in the world of tennis by rattling off 5 consecutive games and trash the match as a contest, but in doing so leave us time to go and watch Thanasi Kokkinakis on the big screen win an epic five setter against 11th seed Gulbis.
Sharapova won 6-4 6-1 in a good first round performance.
Maria could well win the Aus Open - she just has to avoid a final against Serena.
There was no way that Maria as number two seed was going to follow the other seven out the door when she agreed to take on the task of playing Croatia's Petra Martic in the second night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Martic had a very good year in 2012, achieving some memorable victories over top players and reaching her career high ranking of 42. Alas, she has now dropped back into the bottom part of the top 200 and really no one expected anything but a brutal meeting with the ruthless Russian tonight.
To her credit, Petra served it up to Sharapova in the first set, and although clearly lacking the talent and firepower she managed to lessen the gap by attempting to keep points short, often using the serve volley route to end points. Maria played pretty much within herself and the winning shots flowed, too much so in the sixth game where the initial break occurred.
4-2 evolved into 5-2 with the next service hold and Martic did well to stay in the set by evading another break to linger behind 3-5.
Sharapova had the jitters when attempting to put the set away, and eyebrows were raised when Martic actually achieved a break of her own.
Dirty on herself for the misstep, Maria lifted and won the next game to lock away set one 6-4.
Still very much annoyed at her concentration lapse, Maria Sharapova proceeded to prove why she is where she is in the world of tennis by rattling off 5 consecutive games and trash the match as a contest, but in doing so leave us time to go and watch Thanasi Kokkinakis on the big screen win an epic five setter against 11th seed Gulbis.
Sharapova won 6-4 6-1 in a good first round performance.
Maria could well win the Aus Open - she just has to avoid a final against Serena.
Federer finds form early
For world number two Roger Federer the 2015 Aus Open marks the five year anniversary of his last title success at Melbourne Park and he, together with his army of fans, is anxious that this be the scene of his 18th major victory.
First victim in the road to glory - world number 47 Taipei's Yen-Hsun Lu, a consistent performer over the years, but hardly a threat to a player already with the Brisbane title to his name in 2015.
Struggling through his first two first service games including saving break points, Lu still reached 2-2 with a far more comfortable Federer whose serve, backhand and crisp volleying sounded alarm bells from the very start.
The fifth game was where Roger decided to open wide the cracks that were subtly appearing in the Lu game. He broke serve to love, and consolidated with another typical service exhibition to delight the crowd. 4-2 and no doubt where this set was heading.
Despite some improved shot making from Lu, one could sense that second seed Federer was not as concerned about breaking serve again, certain in his own ability to hold his own with ease, which he continued to do. He was almost experimenting at times while receiving serve, trying shots and tactics usually reserved for practice sessions.
The set was won 6-4 and the second set began statistically the same as the first with the first 4 games shared, still with the Swiss star achieving his in almost effortless fashion. Again, the fifth game was pivotal and once more Lu surrendered to the Federer plan, broken to trail 2-3. The volleying in particular was sharp and decisive tonight, something that would be needed later in the tournament when the tougher opponents unleash their weapons.
Federer swiftly made it 4-2 and for good measure broke in the seventh game, destroying any last gasp of hope for the unfortunate Lu. Even with a double fault and break point down while serving for the set, Federer sidestepped that minor obstacle to gain a 6-4 6-2 lead.
The third set was for the best part a legitimate contest, where Lu raised the level of his tennis and Federer continued to play very well, albeit throwing in some rare mistakes to allow Lu some equally rare opportunities. Games travelled with serve and Federer held with ease for the most part, except for early when Lu missed the chance to lead 2-0 after earning a break point.
At 5-5 Lu was given the lesson that so many opponents have received from Federer in the past decade - an even set of tennis was turned on its head in the blink of an eye with a break of serve to love and a change of ends before the second seed served out the match with class and brilliance
6-4 6-2 7-5 and Roger Federer announced his intentions for the next fortnight.
Struggling through his first two first service games including saving break points, Lu still reached 2-2 with a far more comfortable Federer whose serve, backhand and crisp volleying sounded alarm bells from the very start.
The fifth game was where Roger decided to open wide the cracks that were subtly appearing in the Lu game. He broke serve to love, and consolidated with another typical service exhibition to delight the crowd. 4-2 and no doubt where this set was heading.
Despite some improved shot making from Lu, one could sense that second seed Federer was not as concerned about breaking serve again, certain in his own ability to hold his own with ease, which he continued to do. He was almost experimenting at times while receiving serve, trying shots and tactics usually reserved for practice sessions.
The set was won 6-4 and the second set began statistically the same as the first with the first 4 games shared, still with the Swiss star achieving his in almost effortless fashion. Again, the fifth game was pivotal and once more Lu surrendered to the Federer plan, broken to trail 2-3. The volleying in particular was sharp and decisive tonight, something that would be needed later in the tournament when the tougher opponents unleash their weapons.
Federer swiftly made it 4-2 and for good measure broke in the seventh game, destroying any last gasp of hope for the unfortunate Lu. Even with a double fault and break point down while serving for the set, Federer sidestepped that minor obstacle to gain a 6-4 6-2 lead.
The third set was for the best part a legitimate contest, where Lu raised the level of his tennis and Federer continued to play very well, albeit throwing in some rare mistakes to allow Lu some equally rare opportunities. Games travelled with serve and Federer held with ease for the most part, except for early when Lu missed the chance to lead 2-0 after earning a break point.
At 5-5 Lu was given the lesson that so many opponents have received from Federer in the past decade - an even set of tennis was turned on its head in the blink of an eye with a break of serve to love and a change of ends before the second seed served out the match with class and brilliance
6-4 6-2 7-5 and Roger Federer announced his intentions for the next fortnight.
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