IN HAPPY PLACE
Russian star delighted with easy win over Tatjana
MELBOURNE WORLD number one Simona Halep had to come from 5-2 and a set point down against Australian teenager Destanee Aiava to win a dramatic first-round match at the Australian Open yesterday.
Both the Romanian and her 17year-old wildcard opponent needed on-court medical attention before top seed Simona ran out a battling 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 winner in an hour and 51 minutes.
The top seed had fallen at the first hurdle in the past two years at Melbourne Park and another shock was beckoning when the big-hitting Australian took a 5-2 lead in the first set buoyed by
“I felt like I have got a lot of things out of the way physically and emotionally and mentally last year,” said Maria, who only returned to Grand Slam action at the US Open, where she reached the last 16.
“(In 2017) there was a lot of firsts again for me, playing the first tournament, first Grand Slam, and just different feelings and what it would be routinely. But it felt pretty routine today, just really happy to be back here.”
On paper this should have been a close match. Maria, who is climbing her way back up the tennis ladder following her ban, is ranked 48th with her German opponent one place higher. rowdy home supporters.
“She was a very tough opponent,” said a relieved Simona after the match.
But the fearless teenager’s charge to the first set in her first appearance on Rod Laver Arena came to a dramatic halt as she called for a medical timeout at the change of ends, complaining of breathing problems.
After her blood pressure and pulse were taken she departed for further treatment.
On her return she managed to get to set point on the Romanian’s serve, but once Simona held the tide turned.
Destanee was still dazed and
But the gulf in class and experience between Maria, who has won 36 singles titles, and the 30year-old journeywoman yet to register a WTA title was evident from the opening exchanges.
The 2008 Australian Open champion hardly looked back after racing into a 2-0 lead, holding her own serve to love and then breaking the German three times with ease to take the first set 6-1 in 32 minutes.
The German found her service range at the start of the second and briefly led 3-1 before the unseeded Russian cranked up the decibel meter and broke back with a flurry of forehand winners.
Maria broke again, closing out even tried to change ends at 5-3 in her confused state until the umpire gently ushered her back.
Simona showed little of the form which helped her to the Shenzhen title two weeks ago but used her all experience to extend the rallies and force the ailing Australian to dig deep.
Simona eventually forced a tiebreak and finally squeezed over the finish line 7-5 in the tiebreaker to snatch a marathon first set after 73 minutes.
After racing into a 2-0 lead to start the second there was more drama when Simona rolled her ankle horribly chasing down a backhand and fell to the ground the win with a booming ace and a huge smile for the rapturous crowd on Margaret Court Arena.
Maria, one of the highest earners in women’s sport, suffered a string of early defeats after her comeback but has been working her way back up the rankings since.
She broke through to win the Tianjin Open in October — her first title since 2015 — and enjoyed a run to the semi-final in Shenzhen to start the year.
She got back into the world’s top 50 just before the year’s first Grand Slam and next faces either 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who defeated American Varvara Lepchenko 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova and eighth seed Caroline Garcia also progressed, in contrast to needing immediate attention from the physio.
But when she returned with her right ankle newly taped she immediately broke Destanee for 3-0, a moment greeted by almost silence from the home supporters who badly needed to be lifted by the fast-fading Destanee.
But it wasn’t to be as Simona got to the second round for the first time since 2015.
She now faces a mouth-watering clash against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, a former semifinalist in Melbourne and Roland Garros, and a finalist at Wimbledon in 2014. AFP the other side of the draw that saw Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Coco Vandeweghe crash out on Monday.
American woes continued with Madison Brengle sent packing by British ninth seed Johanna Konta.
Karolina was among those to move smoothly into the second round, with a steady 6-3, 6-4 win over Veronica Cepede Royg.
The tall tattooed Czech, who made the quarter-final in Australia last year, was largely untroubled and is looking for a deep run at the tournament.
Sydney-born Johanna also made the last eight in 2017 and showed no signs of her recent hip injury as she dismantled Brengle 6-3, 6-1. AFP