On Day Four of the 2019 Australian Open, third match on Court 3 featured Frenchman Gilles Simon (29) against Australian wildcard Alex Bolt.
Bolt served first.
Two big serves and 30-0. An ace and a love game 1-0.
Simon was down a break point but three backhand errors from Bolt gave him the game 1-1.
Four more Bolt errors and he was broken. 2-1 Simon. A forehand winner began a game which the Frenchman won easily to consolidate the break. 3-1. More unforced errors from the Australian racquet and Simon the beneficiary. He led 4-1.
Despite a forehand winner, Simon found himself down two break points. Two unforced errors from Bolt and deuce. Then a winner from Bolt’s forehand gave him a third break chance. Saved, and a Simon ace produced a game point.
An Australian forehand winner and deuce again. One more deuce before finally a service winner gave Simon a 5-1 lead.
A love game for Bolt, sealed with an ace, for 2-5.
From 15-30, Simon won three straight points and the set 6-2
Bolt began set two holding serve, including a forehand winner. 1-0.
Simon survived two double faults and a break point to level at 1-1.
A love game from Bolt with an ace and service winner. 2-1. Simon delivered an ace and service winner plus a backhand winner to make it 2-2.
Bolt swept to 3-2 on the back of an ace and wiinning backhand. Simon levelled, starting with an ace. Although Bolt served an ace, his double fault put him down two break points. A forehand mistake and Simon broke to lead 4-3.
Up 40-30, Simon slipped to a break point down, after Bolt’s forehand winner and a French double fault. It was saved but not a second chance and games were 4-4.
Bolt hit two winning forehands to escape a break point and he again led 5-4.
From 40-30, Simon once more let it slide to where he faced set point.
Bolt hit his second forehand winner for the game and won the set 6-4
Bolt saved two break points in the opening game of set three before holding with a forehand winner. 1-0.
Two more Bolt forehand winners weren’t enough to prevent a Simon hold, an ace sealing it. 1-1. Both players surrendered just a single point in their next service games, Simon sending down three service winners and an ace. 2-2.
Simon attacked the Australian backhand mercilessly, and three unforced errors emerged, Bolt broken to love. Simon led 3-2.
Two aces in a game consolidating the break for Simon. 4-2.
Three winners, two off the forehand, from Bolt and he stuck close at 3-4.
Three deuces and one break point were negotiated by Simon for a 5-3 advantage. Bolt held and ensured that Simon serve for the set.
Two aces and a double fault later, France had taken the set 6-4 to lead two sets to one.
Bolt held the opening game of set four, losing a single point. 1-0. Simon did likewise for 1-1. Bolt, with two winners, had three game points, but blew them all, and was down a break point. He salvaged the mess by serving an ace, and two winners later, one off either wing, he had won the game. 2-1.
Simon trailed 0-40, but extricated himself with the assistance of two winners and levelled things at 2-2.
Bolt led 30-15, but a double fault gave break point to Simon, and a French backhand secured the break. Simon 3-2.
Simon survived two break back points, but when Bolt created a third with a forehand winner, Simon double faulted and gifted the game to Australia. 3-3.
Games on serve for next four games. 5-5.
Down a break point, Bolt forced three French errors to hold and lead 6-5. A forehand winner down the line from Bolt followed by a Simon error and 0-30. Good defence and back to 30-30. Return sent long, but a sizzling forehand for deuce. Simon put one long and another deuce. Simon escaped and a tiebreak arrived.
Sharp Simon volley and 2-0. 3-0 after good rally.
Simon double fault and 3–3. Change of ends. A bad miss by Bolt and Simon up 5-4. Two match points after a return into the net.
One saved after a Simon mishit. 6-6 and second end change.
Forehand return winner and third match point. Bolt forehand winner and 7-7. Simon ace and fourth match point. An outstanding forehand winner and 8-8. Ace from Bolt and 9-8 set point.
He did it, saving all four match points, and a fifth set required.
From 15-30 in the opening game of the final set Simon zeroed in on the Bolt forehand and held serve. 1-0
The Australian clinched a service game with a forehand winner. 1-1.
Two winners from Bolt and he had Simon 30-30. A Simon forehand saved a break point, but a Bolt winning forehand converted a second break point, and the Australian led 2-1.
Bolt began with a forehand winner and finished with an ace in a love game which boosted him to 3-1.
Simon started with a forehand and ended with an ace, also, to trail 2-3.
Bolt held again, comfortably, and moved closer to an unexpected victory. 4-2.
Simon raced through his game and remained close at 3-4.
An unforced Bolt backhand error put him at 15-40, and Simon cashed in with a forehand winner to even things up at 4-4.
Bolt, with two winning forehands, had two break points. He only required one, as Simon failed on the backhand side.
Bolt would serve for the match at 5-4.
A forehand winner and an ace was the perfect start when serving for a third round berth. At 40-15, and with two match points, Bolt delivered a backhand winner to take the match.
Alex Bolt won his first match against an opponent ranked inside the top seventy 2-6 6-4 4-6 7-6(8) 6-4.
He joins four other Australians (2 men, 2 women) in the third round.
No comments:
Post a Comment