Red-hot Muguruza eager to solve US Open puzzle
Cheika questions referee’s performance as All Blacks edge Wallabies in epic clash
NEW YORK: Long before Garbine Muguruza was the hottest player in women’s tennis and among the favourites for thisweek’s US Open, Serena Williams predicted her ascension.
It was two years ago, when Williams, the unrivaled queen of the sport, had just vanquished Muguruza in the Wimbledon final for her 21st Grand Slam singles title.
“She said: ‘you’re going to win this in the future,” the
WELLINGTON: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has questioned the refereeing of Nigel Owens in their 35-29 Rugby Championship loss to the All Blacks yesterday.
Cheika was particularly annoyed at an incident involving All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick when the New Zealander upended flanker Ned Hannigan as they were getting to their feet following a tackle.
“Retallick has picked up one of our blokes and put him on his head, categorically,” Cheika said of the incident in the 23rd minute.
“He’s got his arms through his leg, picked him up and then it’s a free pass. The guy can’t end up on his (head) any other way ... just as well he didn’t break his neck.”
Owens was alerted to the incident by the television official Rowan Kitt and he halted the game while they checked footage. Both officials said at the time they believed the pair of players had just been clumsy in getting to their feet.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was heard questioning Owens about the incident and whether it was allowable for players to be lifted by their legs into the air.
Cheika said he felt other decisions had gone against his side, who led 29-28 with less than four minutes remaining, which halted their momentum at crucial times.
“I just think at some key moments we got some calls that put us on the back foot, lost momentum and gave New Zealand field position and tries ensued from that,” Cheika said.
“We lost momentum at different 23-year-old Spaniard recalled last month during a TV interview.
“But I don’t think she meant (while) playing her sister.”
Little did Serena know that Muguruza would overtake her a year later for the French Open title and then make good on her prophecy by besting sister Venus at Wimbledon this year.
Now with Serena sidelined for the impending birth of her first child, the two-times grand slam winner is delivering on times in the game through some crucial calls (but) any of that stuff does not in any way excuse not finishing that game off with three minutes to go.”
The Wallabies had been pilloried after their 54-34 loss in the first match in Sydney last week, particularly for their defence when the All Blacks raced out to a 54-6 lead after 48 minutes. Cheika’s side, however, were much more abrasive in the tackle and far more direct yesterday in Dunedin, which forced the All Blacks into errors and kept them at bay for long the promise that could see her become the new face of women’s tennis.
With her devastating 6-1, 6-0 romp of Simona Halep to claim the Cincinnati Open last Sunday, Muguruza rose to third in the world rankings.
And with two wins in her last four tournaments, she arrives at Flushing Meadows in New York with a seemingly good formula to reach the second week at the US Open.
“Playing three tournaments (since Wimbledon) and lifting periods despite being under sustained pressure. “We deserved to win,” Cheika said. “It’s just really disappointing for the players. They have put in a lot of effort and have copped a lot of grief from back home and given it everything. They deserved better... and I just want a bit more reward for the work we are doing.”
The victory ensured the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 15th successive season.
The world champions, however, had to dig deep after they had conceded a trophy is a great preparation and I hope it’s going to help me,” Muguruza told reporters.
“But I know even if you play a terrible match before a grand slam it doesn’t really matter, or if you win a tournament. We’ll see how it goes.”
For all of Muguruza’s natural gifts, including her powerful groundstrokes, wingspan and court coverage, she has yet to realise her best in New York and in four attempts has never advanced past the second round of the US Open. She an early 17-0 deficit and then had to overcome Kurtley Beale’s 76th-minute try that had given the Wallabies a 29-28 lead.
“Really, really proud of the boys,” Hansen said. “To give a side like Australia 17 points at the start and to keep their composure and just be three behind at halftime, then hit the front and then lose it again near the end. Really proud of them.”
Hansen had special reason to savour the win after pundits, fans and the media in rugby-mad New Zealand had started to question the team’s mental toughness following a drawn series against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year.
Previous All Blacks sides under Hansen had a knack of overcoming big deficits and somehow winning games they should have lost.
However the international retirements of six stalwarts after the last World Cup deprived the side of valuable experience and they were pushed to breaking point by Warren Gatland’s Lions earlier this year.
The Lions finished the series stronger, dominating the last quarters of the final two tests - a period in matches the All Blacks had been able to control and finish over the top of their opposition.
Last week in Sydney against the Wallabies they raced to a 54-6 lead after 48 minutes then took their foot off the gas and Michael Cheika’s side scored four unanswered tries.
Yesterday, the Wallabies almost snatched the scintillating game at the death only for the All Blacks to regroup and finish it off with Barrett’s second try of the final quarter. – Reuters has admitted a natural affinity for French Open clay and a reverence for the grass courts of Wimbledon, but the hard courts of Flushing Meadows have been a puzzle.
“I feel like I’m going to try and not have a lot of expectations with New York,” said Muguruza. “Every time I have a little bit, it holds me a little bit back. I’m just going to go out there from zero. Forget about what happened previous years. It’s a new tournament.” – Reuters