Day 8 of Australian Open 2019, and the round of sixteen. Opening match on Margaret Court Arena was:
Madison Keys (17) (USA) v Elina Svitolina (6) (UKR)
Keys served first, and with three unforced errors, gave Svitolina two break points. A forehand winner on the first of these produced the break and Svitolina led 1-0.
Svitolina served a double fault, but it was the only point lost in a game which ended with her acing keys to lead 2-0. Keys saved the first of two break points in the next game but couldn’t survive the second and was down a double break 0-3.
Keys hit two winners in the Svitolina service game, but still couldn’t gain an edge due to unforced errors, and the Ukrainian celebrated a 4-0 advantage.
Keys finally held serve, a pair of winning forehands towards the end of the game. 1-4. From 15-30, Svitolina forced Keys into three successive errors and held serve for 5-1.
Next was the best game so far for Keys, sparked by early winners. 2-5.
Svitolina, serving for the set, began with an ace, and slid through the remainder of the game with relative ease to take the set 6-2.
Keys was a different player in set two right from the start, three winners in the opening game to hold and lead 1-0. A forehand winner on break point in the next game and 2-0. From deuce in her next service game, winners off both wings for Keys who was ahead 3-0.
That became 5-0 after Keys broke Svitolina to love and then served a love game. On a ten point streak.
1-5 after Svitolina played a more even handed game on serve.
Keys won the set 6-2 on the second of three match points.
Svitolina won the opening game of set three, the final point a backhand winner. Three winners from Keys, and she levelled at 1-1.
Svitolina survived a 17 minute game where deuce was visited 11 times.
Five break points were saved and the lead was 2-1.
Keys fell apart, failing to win another game, and Elina Svitolina won her way into the quarter finals for the second straight year, winning 6-2 2-6 6-1.
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