AO - Day 5 - Barty v Rybakina

First match on Day Five on RLA, 2020 AO - top seed Ashleigh Barty against Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan in their first meeting.

Both had won lead up tournaments, Barty in Adelaide, Rybakina in Hobart.

Barty served first, and was broken to love, Rybakina hitting a forehand winner and Barty throwing in three unforced errors.

The break back occurred, Rybakina winning just the one point, Barty hitting a forehand winner in the process.

Barty lost serve again after having a 30-0 lead, and Rybakina wasted two game points en route to dropping her second service game - it was 2-2.

Barty began game five with an ace. A sliced backhand was genius. Rybakina donated a sizzling backhand, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the first service hold of the match, Barty finishing with solid serves. 3-2 to the top seed.

Rybakina found herself in service trouble for a third time, She led 30-0 following a backhand drive down the line, but then lost her way, putting a forehand long, suffering from a Barty touch volley, then messing up a smash at the net. A simple overhead miss cost Rybakina the break and Barty led 4-2.

This became 5-2 in a flash with a Barty love game - two Rybakina return errors and an ace to finish.

Rybakina saved a set point when serving at 2-5, but Barty would serve for it at 5-3. A volley winner, a Rybakina backhand error, and another volley winner created three set points. A forehand clinched it 6-3.

Set two began with Barty breaking the Rybakina serve, a double fault not helping, and the Barty forehand damaging. 

In a prolonged second game, Barty let 40-15 slip, and had to stave off three break points before consolidating a 2-0 position. The next two games were much more conventional and Rybakina went to the line at 1-3.

A Kazakhstan backhand winner and and another backhand forcing an Australian error gave Rybakina 30-0. Barty hit a forehand winner, and Rybakina hit the net for 30-30. An overplayed backhand from the 29th seed brought up break point and her double fault presented Barty with a double break.

As in the second game Barty struggled to consolidate the break, needing once again to save a trio of break points. Achieving this, the Australian led 5-1.

Rybakina held, ensuring Barty had to serve to win, which she did, saving a break point but securing a round of sixteen berth when Rybakina hit her backhand wide.

6-3 6-2.

AO - Night 4 - Nadal v Delbonis

Second match on RLA, Night Four, 2020 AO - Rafa Nadal (1) v Federico Delbonis from Argentina.

Nadal served first and held with ease. In complete contrast, Delbonis levelled in a game lasting 21 points, visiting deuce eight times, and in which six break points were saved.

At 1-2, Delbonis led 40-15, but a Nadal lob caused problems, Delbonis netted a backhand and Nadal hit a forehand winner. The resultant break point was converted when another Delbonis backhand hit the net. 3-1 Nadal.

Three games then went with serve, two of them Nadal’s to love, and the Spaniard led 5-2.

Delbonis served to stay in the set, and Nadal started with a volley winner. A double fault and 0-30. A netted Argentine backhand gave Nadal two set points. Both saved with good serving. Delbonis held on, and Nadal would serve at 5-3 for the set.

A Spanish forehand forced an error and it was 30-0. A rare Nadal mistake plus a Delbonis backhand winner levelled it at 30-30. An ace brought up set point. Saved when Nadal hit it long. Another set point was taken with a forehand winner. Nadal ahead 6-3.

In a frustrating set for Nadal, his opponent saved 3 break points in game one, 2 in game five, 3 in game seven, and 1 in game eleven. Nadal won 25 of 32 points on serve. 

Despite the differential in ease of service holds, no break occurred and a tie break was required.

Points were on serve in the tie break until Delbonis was at the line 1-2. An extraordinary run across the baseline to reach the ball and then hit a perfect lob was Nadal at his best. Delbonis couldn’t keep the ball in play and the mini break gave Nadal a 3-1 lead.

No more points went against serve for the next five, giving Nadal a 5-4 lead and two serves to come.

A backhand from Delbonis hit the net and Nadal had two set points. A service winner and the top seed led 6-3 7-6(4).

The third set was on serve until the fourth game, where Delbonis served at 1-2. He missed with the first two points, and a mishit forehand gave Nadal three break points. The break came and Nadal led 3-1.

A simple service hold swept Nadal to 4-1 and ever closer to the third round.

Delbonis was fading after a strong showing, and in the sixth game he was passed by a Nadal backhand return to be down 0-30. He reacted well by sending a volley into open court, but it was insufficient and after a netted Delbonis backhand, two break points arrived. A thunderous Nadal return did the job and the Spaniard would serve for the match.

An ace began the game. A service winner followed. A touch volley for three match points. A missed shot at the net delayed the finish, but it came next point with a forehand winner. 

Rafa Nadal won 6-3 7-6(4) 6-1

AO - Night 4 - Halep v Dart

First match on RLA on Night Four, 2020 AO - Romania’s reigning Wimbledon champion, Simona Halep (4) v Harriet Dart from Great Britain.

Dart served first and had a game point, despite Halep’s forehand winner. Still, the fourth seed broke after Dart put a forehand long and backhands into the net and long.

Halep surprisingly was also broken, failing to win a point. Dart employed the drop shot twice with success, and a backhand winner was included.

Continuing with the issues on serve, Dart was passed by a Halep forehand, then a backhand failure and double fault raised two break points. A second double fault gave Halep the lead 2-1.

Halep stopped the run, and held serve - to love. The third attempt to hold serve by Dart was error ridden, and she fell further adrift at 1-4.

The fourth seed wasn’t hitting many winners, but was forcing her opponent to all parts of the court, making it difficult to execute anything useful. Dart occasionally would offer something worthwhile such as a delightful backhand winner in the sixth game, and that helped her take Halep to deuce. However, a backhand winner from Halep and backhand error from Dart confirmed a 5-1 score.

After Dart held serve for the first time, Halep served for the set at 5-2.

From 30-0, things became a little complicated, three points lost with Halep errors. The break point was saved and set point eventually reached. Saved with a Dart forehand pass. A second set point was converted when Dart missed a return. 6-2 Halep.

Set two began with Halep breaking the first two Dart service games while easily holding both of her own. 4-0.

Serves were held for the next three games, leaving Halep to serve for the match at 5-2.

Dart hit a backhand winner but then netted a forehand. Halep drove a forehand winner from the net and Dart replied with a drop shot. A forehand miss from the British racquet gave Halep match point. It was saved when a Romanian backhand hit the net. A break point arrived with another Halep mistake. The break came and Dart trailed 3-5.

The break was consolidated and Halep went to the line for another try to win the match.

Dart hit a winning forehand, then missed with two down the line. Halep missed a forehand and it was 30-30. Break point after Halep hit the net. Saved when Dart’s backhand failed. Match point arrived but was saved by a British backhand. Another match point saved when a Halep forehand landed long. Yet another match point came along and this time the Dart forehand was too long. Simona Halep won 6-2 6-4.

AO - Day 4 - Kerber v Hon

Third match on Margaret Court Arena on Day Four of 2020 AO was Germany’s Angelique Kerber v Australian Priscilla Hon.

Hon held serve, then with her forehand winner, a Kerber double fault, and a forced backhand error, the Australian broke serve for a 2-0 lead.

Kerber immediately broke back, thanks to Hon mistakes outweighing the single winner. A double fault finished the game.

Kerber held serve to capitalise on the break and level the score, but then there were three successive breaks of serve, and the17th seed led 4-3.

A love game on serve extended the advantage to 5-3, Hon tending to rush her shots and errors resulting. Kerber finished the game with a backhand winner down the line.

Serving to stay in the set, Hon was all at sea, down 15-40 due to unforced errors. Another, off the backhand, donated the game to Kerber who was up a set 6-3.

Set two began with a pair of service breaks before Kerber held for 2-1.  

Hon saved two break points in the fourth game, the first with a backhand setting up the overhead. The second save came from a backhand cross court winner.

Still, Kerber created a third chance with a forehand pass. Hon pulled a backhand wide and Kerber led 3-1.

At 2-5, and serving to stay in the match, Hon raced to 40-0, Kerber missing a high volley, then two forehands. The three game points vanished, the first with a Kerber forehand winner, the second with a Hon netted forehand and the third with a backhand failure. Another game point came and went before a backhand miss from Hon gave Kerber match point. It vanished with a Hon forehand winner. 

A second match point arrived when Hon put a forehand long. Kerber was victorious once Hon pulled a forehand wide. 6-3 6-2.

AO - Day 4 - Pliskova v Siegemund

Second match on RLA, Day Four, 2020 AO - second seed Karolina Pliskova v Germany’s Laura Siegemund.

Siegemund served first and it was a love game. Pliskova levelled at 1-1. 

Game three was prolonged, and Siegemund had to negotiate two break points. The first was saved with a down the centre ace, the second with a forehand down the line winner.

The fourth game saw Pliskova ahead 40-30, before hitting the net and then being passed with a brilliant running forehand cross court forehand. The break came when Pliskova missed with a backhand.

Siegemund could not consolidate, and Pliskova won the break back then held for 3-3.

Siegemund let slip a 40-15 lead to drop serve again and Pliskova raced to 5-3 on th back of a love game.

Serving to stay in the set, Siegemund netted a backhand then a forehand. A double fault gave Pliskova three set points. A German forehand found the net and Pliskova was ahead 6-3.

Pliskova served first in set two, and broke the German serve in game four. Siegemund dug deep to save two break points in the sixth game and kept the score to 2-4.

Siegemund had one chance to break back but it was nullified, and at 2-5 things looked decidedly grim for Laura.

Serving at 5-3 for a place in the third round, Pliskova skipped to 40-0, Siegemund errors of assistance. Two match points went by the wayside, but a big serve did the trick and Karolina Pliskova won 6-3 6-3.

AO - Day 4 - Muguruza v Tomljanovic

First up on RLA on Day Four, 2020 AO - Garbiñe Muguruza v Ajla Tomljanovic.

Muguruza served first and with mistakes was down 0-30. Good serving helped her to game point, but inconsistency meant she eventually faced a break point. This was saved but not a second, when Tomljanovic passed the dual GS champion with a backhand.

The break was consolidated but only after a visit to deuce.

Muguruza held serve to put a score on the board, and then appeared set to trail 1-3 when Tomljanovic led 40-15 in the fourth game.

However, a wide forehand and a wide backhand from the Australian brought it to deuce. Another game point disappeared when a Muguruza backhand landed long but was overruled as in by the central umpire. It was later revealed as out, but Tomljanovic didn’t challenge the overrule; if she had she would have won the game.

The point was replayed and Muguruza won the point. She also won the game, breaking back for 2-2.

This was a momentum changer, and Muguruza controlled the remainder of the set, holding easily for 3-2, then converting the third of three break points in the sixth game. The Spaniard’s ability to send forehands deep into the corner, putting Tomljanovic out of the play, was paying dividends, 5-2 the result.

Tomljanovic served a timely love game, forcing Muguruza to the line. A backhand down the line winner gave Muguruza two set points, and a lob winner clinched the set 6-3.

Games went with serve in set two, with break points saved in the third and fourth.

In the sixth game, with Muguruza serving at 2-3, and 30-0, Tomljanovic hit a forehand winner, Muguruza hit a forehand wide, and then one into the net. The break point was saved, but a second one wasn’t, Tomljanovic winning with her forehand. 4-2.

Serving at 5-3 for the set, Tomljanovic double faulted. After that, it was smooth sailing, with a Muguruza error and two service winners creating a couple of set points. A long Spanish return guaranteed that a third set would be required. Tomljanovic won the second set 6-3.

Three games into the deciding set, Muguruza had served two love games, and Tomljanovic had lost just one point. 

30-30 in the fourth game, Tomljanovic serving. Double fault and break point. Saved with a forehand winner down the line. 

Game point disappeared when Muguruza put away a forehand. Second game point gone when Tomljanovic hit long. Break point after a long rally and Muguruza winner. Tomljanovic missed with volley and Muguruza broke for 3-1.

Tomljanovic immediately broke back, then held for 3-3.

At 3-4, the Australian double faulted for 15-30. Forehand winner from Tomljanovic and 30-30. Brilliance from Muguruza with forehand winner and break point. Forehand from Tomljanovic too long and Muguruza at 5-3 serving for the match.

Exchange of errors and 15-15. Great serve and 30-15. Another big serve 40-15 two match points. Backhand winner from Tomljanovic saved one. Missed backhand from Muguruza and deuce. Netted return and third match point. Return long and Garbiñe Muguruza won a close match 6-3 3-6 6-3.

AO - Night 3 - Federer v Krajinovic

Second match on Night Three on RLA, 2020 AO was Roger Federer v Serbian Filip Krajinovic.

Federer served first and held for the loss of only one point, two forehands especially good. Three break points were created next game by Federer, backhand winners sublime. Krajinovic saved two, an ace and exquisite drop shot doing the job. He couldn’t save the third though.

Federer held again then went to work once more on the Serb delivery. At 40-30, Federer hit a forehand down the line then Krajinovic found the net. Another forehand winner confirmed the break, and Federer led 4-0.

An ace began game five, and Krajinovic hit back with a rifled forehand return that Federer could barely touch. Krajinovic put away a volley to make it 30-30, but Federer calmly served out the game, sealing it with a predictable winning forehand. 5-0.

A love game from Krajinovic saved some face, but Federer won the set 6-1 next game, complete with two more forehand winners.

Federer broke straight away in set two, despite an ace and winning volley from Krajinovic. Games went to serve for awhile, Krajinovic saving two break points in the fifth, and Federer one in the sixth.

Federer served at 4-3, and a backhand winner from Krajinovic earned one from the third seed in response. At 30-30 Federer netted a forehand and it was break point. Saved with a winning forehand.

Another netted forehand and a second break chance. Federer put a backhand long and Krajinovic broke back for 4-4.

Immediately, Federer did as expected. A forehand Swiss winner and a Krajinovic mishit brought 0-30. A Krajinovic winner couldn’t stop the Swiss train which produced two break points. Only one needed and Federer would serve for the set.

An ace and forehand put away. 30-0. Another ace for two set points. Unreturned serve and Federer led 6-1 6-4.

As in the first and second sets, Krajinovic lost his opening serve in set three. Federer consolidated the break for the loss of just a point, a terrific lob from Krajinovic. 

The third game was longest of the match, and Krajinovic saved a break point en route to holding serve. That was his final success for the night.

Federer held serve twice more, surrendering only point, while breaking the Serb serve in the fifth game.

At 1-5, Krajinovic went to the line. He lost the opening two points with errors. A double fault gave Federer three match points. Two were saved. A Swiss forehand winner sealed the victory 6-1 6-4 6-1.