Anastasija Sevastova gave it everything she had to begin the tournament at the China Open Saturday night. Despite playing three lengthy sets on Centre Court, Maria Sharapova
came out on top to win a thriller 7-6(3) 5-7, 7-6(7) at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing. The two had it out for one another in what never looked to be a lopsided match but a tug of war for control.
This was truly the rematch of the fourth round of the US Open where the Latvian put the pedal to the medal in her three set victory over the popular superstar. Sevastova overcame a tough ending to the first set at Arthur Ashe Stadium and impressed the crowd with her control over the Russian to go on and win. Things haven’t changed much since then with it being Sharapova’s first match since losing to Sevastova. Since it made the opening round that much interesting, the world ranked 104th would try to avoid losing again in her continued quest to rise up the ranks.
She witnessed her serve broken by Sevastova who came out attacking despite the nerves both were feeling right from the start. In response, Sharapova intensified her skills and attacked the Latvian’s serve making her stance known. It led to a tug of war in the third with Sharapova trying to hold serve for once but fight on deuce with Sevastova. It went three breaks and lasted six and a half minutes before the former number one captured the win.
The next three went on pace of holding serve with Sharapova taking point in changing the score. By the seventh, it was Sevastova who made the lead change with a massive triple break of Sharapova that soon led to a conference with coach Sven Groeneveld during the changeover. His advice of hitting early on the second serve could help improve her percentage as it sat near 40. Staying focused, Sharapova added pressure to her shots across court coming out with the break that leveled the score at four all.
A key service hold gave Sharapova a 5-4 lead in the set which led Sevastova to call for her coach to calm the nerves and keep in the set. She did so in the tenth that pushed the players into the extension that would force one to take it. Sevastova was first to take the 6-5 lead but Sharapova immediately put her under pressure which led to their first tiebreaker between one another.
It was a breeze early for the Russian who gained a footing before the Latvian found ways of scoring points while not giving them up. Before she could overcome the deficit, Sharapova locked down the victory in 64 minutes. Though she had the capability of coming out ahead, her overall game in the first set didn’t make it easy. The former number won 14 of 27 on the first serve and 9 of 21 on the second. Her 18 winners helped with the numerous unforced errors but more work had to be done going forward.
She indeed showed strength winning the break quickly, then consolidating with a service hold in the second game. It was a huge obstacle for Sevastova who watched Sharapova blast back returns. She adjusted to the attacks and made them work to her benefit of getting on the board. She was a game down after five decisions with Sharapova in control of her service game which produced another game winner.
Sevastova’s attempts to level the score in the eighth went sour as Sharapova struck back to recover three break points. She got to deuce with the Latvian but couldn’t get the AD leading to the inevitable tie. Another conference with Groeneveld took place after Sevastova took the lead that threatened a quick finish to the match for the Russian. She listened as he asked her to improve the second serve that was truly taking a toll on her game as well as her first act on the return.
With the pressure sitting well on her end, Sharapova double faulted at the wrong time giving Sevastova set point in the tenth. She saved it with a well-placed drop shot leading to a forehand placement of the ball. Game point was locked down with a smash well out of reach of the 27 year old to move the set deeper. Sevastova made well of serving tough in the 11th where she quickly reached three game points.
Two errors and a double fault got Sharapova to deuce but she held on to win the game with aggressiveness to threaten a third set into play. Sevastova had three set points and easily capped the set with an error on the return from Sharapova and into the net ending another hour of play.
Both knew the opportunities and consequences with the way they played out the third set and for Sharapova, it was much more important to her. She made good on improving her offense taking Sevastova for an early jump ahead. It was a 3-1 run before the Latvian held serve in the fifth to stay close to the 30 year old. Sharapova had enough of close contact with Sevastova and put her game into a new gear that added back to back wins to stand 5-2 with a game between herself and the second round.
Sevastova didn’t make it easy for Sharapova to get away with the win and broke her to get herself in the momentum of getting back. The same was felt in Sharapova who reached two match points against Sevastova’s serve but were erased to force deuce. They went to three breaks where the Russian had critical errors that allowed the 16th seed back into it with a chance to beat Sharapova again.
Groeneveld came out at the request of his athlete giving her a calm voice to play one point at a time, focus and relax her mind. She served in the tenth double faulting on the second point which became her ninth of the match. She reached double digits with another one that left the door open for Sevastova to overtake. The forehand of Sharapova was taking her on a roller coaster as the game ended with another unforced error to play the distance in a third consecutive set.
From 2-5 down, Sevastova completed the comeback with a win on serve in the 11th that let her play for the match with Sharapova under duress. It took some serious court positioning and ball placement for Sharapova to get back into the set and force a second tiebreak with Sevastova. It was a give and take start between the two before a push from the Latvian let her dictate. She put down a good return standing close to the net to deliver a winner that gave her a 4-2 lead.
Sharapova recovered the two lost points but fell a point down the 27 year old got it on her terms. She answered with an ace but followed it up with a shot into the net. On match point for Sevastova, the Russian saved herself with a sliced shot that barely caught the line inside to keep things going. Every point counted at this moment with the former number one getting out front gaining a third try at ending it. It would take her one more to get the job done that brought a close to three hours and five minutes.
The two finished just before 11 p.m. local time making it an exciting start on the first day of the premier mandatory tournament. While Sevastova will have plenty to be proud of, her opponent would prepare for a second round match facing the winner between Jennifer Brady and Ekaterina Makarova Monday.
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