Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Qiang Wang flys straight to second round in three set win over Belinda Bencic

Qiang Wang serves up a shot for Belinda Bencic during their first-round match at the Championships Wimbledon. 



Belinda Bencic played hard over the span of two day, only to see her tournament cut short at the Championships Wimbledon Tuesday. A lingering injury and lots of spunk from Qiang Wang allowed the Chinese star to advance after a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 result on Court 12 at the All England Tennis Club.

The two full-time stars of the WTA tour meet in a grand slam matchup to begin their series with one another. During the grass-court season, both players put in their time, but it was Bencic going for broke in Berlin. After losing in Hertogenbosch, the Swiss star moved into Berlin and gave it a run to the final. Despite retiring due to an ankle injury to eventual champ Ons Jabeur, the 25-year-old more than prepared herself for action at SW19.

Wang went a different path, playing a bit in the ITF before giving Nottingham and Birmingham a ruse. Though they didn’t pan out, her exhibition run at Liverpool produced three match wins. With the Chinese star carrying a streak, she would hope that it could bring up a problem for the 14th seed.  

Bencic cruised to a 40-0 opening, but problems brought Wang to deuce. The unseeded player managed to bring up an AD point, only to see Bencic reel her in and lock down the service. The 30-year-old produced a perfect serve to Bencic in the second and built up a breakpoint chance in the third. Bencic got into a net battle with Wang to settle the score to deuce. Her efforts to hold serve soured on the second break with an error that clinched the lead for the Chinese star.

The 14th seed broke back immediately in the fourth, not ready to give Wang any opportunities. Instead, she took one herself with a hold of serve in the fifth and beat Wang for the double break. Despite losing ground, the Chinese star battled back and cut Bencic’s lead, notching the fourth break of serve in the set. The score was level at four-all due to Wang’s effort to consolidate on serve.

She tallied her third win in a row against Bencic, who was outplayed on serve and faced going down a set. Wang was very much in gear, but a battle from Bencic forced her to go to deuce. She put down some good winners, but a late surge in the fourth break brought up a winner that sealed the deal for her. After a 45-minute set, Wang scored 75 percent from the first serve and had 17 winners to go with it. Bencic suffered many errors, with most at the hands of Wang and some of her own doing.

As the sunlight slowly faded from the court, Wang continued her dominance. She opened the second with a break of the Swiss star and backed it up on the serve. The Chinese star took a commanding presence on the court with a 3-0 lead over the 14th seed. With the double break in hand, the 30-year-old consolidated for a 4-0 score for her eighth game in a row over the Swiss. Bencic was not in position to overturn Wang but fought against the light to stay in contention.

In the fifth, the 14th seed was up 40-15 and snapped the long winning streak of Wang on a long error. Bencic fought back in the next game, earning three break points on the Chinese player. Wang managed to save one and forced errors from the 14th seed to reach deuce. After a couple of breaks, it was Wang who worked through Bencic to reach 5-1. Sitting on the edge of an early exit, Bencic served to stay alive in the seventh and held serve. Wang earned the chance to end it herself, but errors from her side of the court gave Bencic life. With two breakpoints, the 14th seed watched a pop fly go long, earning a third straight win.

The Swiss star hung on for another game as she had Wang’s nerves rattled after the ninth, gaining momentum. The 25-year-old completed the comeback with a dominant run of winners that broke down Wang, who was panicking on the court. Bencic won 16 of the last 20 points and, on game point in the 11th, the 14th seed locked down her fifth win in a row. Making sure that she stayed in control of the score, Bencic managed to secure the 12th game that sealed her a set to the good before play suspended.    

When play resumed the next day, Wang took the lead on a break of Bencic. She backed it up on serve for the 2-0 lead and soon had a 3-1 hold after four games. She sped through the next two games made it 5-1 for the Chinese star, who opened the match the same way. Bencic served to stay alive in the competition and rallied to hold off the end of her time on the court. Wang had two chances to get it done against Bencic and brought up an attempt, but watched it go long. She didn’t let her next attempt slip away, scoring her place in the second round on a long return from Bencic ending

Jelena Ostapenko works Oceane Dodin out of Wimbledon in straight sets

Jelena Ostapenko smashes a forehand across court to Oceane Dodin in their first-round match at the Championships Wimbledon



Jelena Ostapenko got into a quick battle but held the way to win at the Championships Wimbledon Tuesday. Despite a late start to her opening round match with Oceane Dodin, the Latvian held off the competition to win 6-4, 6-4 on Court 17 at the All England Tennis Club.

Despite losing out on back-to-back titles in Eastbourne, the Latvian was more than ready to meet her French opponent for the third time. Their last match in Doha went to the former French Open champion, who wanted to take all her progress this grass-court season and return to the semis from four years ago. Dodin only played one match on grass, leaving her vulnerable against the 12th seed. Despite the lack of work on the surface, Dodin had the capabilities to put into play.

Ostapenko opened the scoring with a serve to love, followed by a break gifted by the French star herself. Dodin broke back with terrific winning returns on every shot, but tying in a hold of serve was denied by the Latvian, who took a 3-1 stance. She adjusted to her serve against the breeze on the court to consolidate and take a 4-1 lead on Dodin. The French star cracked onto the score with a hold of serve, but Ostapenko continued to climb closer to taking the set, holding her end in the seventh.

Dodin inched closer to Ostapenko in back-to-back victories that saw the 12th seed struggle with returns. A game separated the two going into the ninth and Dodin on the service. She tried to get the victory that would level the score but reached deuce on errors. She handed the Latvian four set points until a long return ended the set for the 12th seed in 34 minutes. Unforced errors rattled both players in the end with 19, but the 11 winners Ostapenko produced were enough to help her edge ahead.

The 12 seed didn’t have the room to make errors in the second set, as Dodin followed her on holding serves through four games. In the fifth, the French star broke Ostapenko before she suffered one right back. The Latvian put together a serve to love in the seventh, as an error came across the court and long of the baseline. Dodin was still on her tail as the two reached the business end of the set.

In the ninth, Ostapenko locked the hold of serve to put Dodin on the hot seat to answer. The Latvian fired back forehand winners to reach match point, leading her to victory on her second attempt. A forehand winner put a cap on a quick day for the 12th seed, who secured a spot in the second round in 1 hour and 10 minutes.



Friday, May 27, 2022

Leylah Fernandez drops Belinda Bencic in three sets at French Open

Leylah Fernandez clenches her fist during her third-round match with Belinda Bencic at the French Open. 



Belinda Bencic once again suffered defeat at the hands of the youthful Canadian at the French Open Friday. Leylah Fernandez made her statements throughout the three-set match, defeating the 14th seed 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 on Court Philippe Chatrier on the grounds of Roland Garros.

After a big win over Bianca Andreescu, the Swiss star ran into another Canadian, who like Andreescu, made it to a main major final. Fernandez had done all right for herself this season, winning in Monterrey and putting in quality time on tour. Her experience against Bencic paid off two years ago at the Billy Jean King Cup, beating the then 23-year-old. Her wins so far against Kristina Mladenovic and Katerina Siniakova are impressive to set up a match with the 14th seed. Having made the third round before, the teen wanted to knock out another big name and surpass her personal best in Paris.

The Canadian opened service and blasted shots at Bencic, who only notched a point in the opening game. When it came time for her to serve, Fernandez managed to force deuce and worked the Swiss to break her. The teen gained a 3-0 lead on the 14th seed, backing up the early break. Bencic knew that she was out of her comfort zone and fought to change things in the fourth. She gained back her offense and knocked out a service game.

The 23-year-old scored a break and consolidated in the sixth, recovering all the ground lost to Fernandez. The Canadian followed suit with her opponent and held serve in the seventh, gaining back the lead in the process. With the business end of the set nearing, Bencic understood that losing serve was not an option and leveled the score back in response. The 14th seed had a chance to break Fernandez, but the teen fired a shot that forced Bencic to err. The Swiss turned it around for the AD point and forced an error on the other side, scoring the break.

With the door open to serve for the set, Bencic overcame the early deficit by Fernandez, only to be forced to deuce on her first set point. Having stopped the opportunity, the Canadian gained the AD point to level the score at five-all. The 17th seed put herself in a great place, taking the 11th game, with pressure back on Bencic. She opened the 12th with a miscue and a double fault, handing Fernandez a jump on the score. The Canadian took the advantage and won the next two points, clinching the first set in 57 minutes.

When playing Fernandez, errors were a huge factor in her consistent play on the court. She served 69 percent from the first serve and kept the errors low with four. Bencic struggled, despite her fight, but eight errors against the teen were too much to commit against a formidable opponent.

In the second, the competition was fierce, with Fernandez holding serve followed by Bencic. The 14th seed became enraged when she was called for time when her opponent was ready earlier. Despite her anger, she put that into breaking Fernandez to take the lead. Bencic slowed down the pace to her comfort, forcing deuce in the fourth. The Canadian teen continued to pressure Bencic through for breaks until the Swiss locked it down.

Fernandez stayed in touch with a hold of serve in the fifth, but stepping into Bencic’s serve was not in the cards, as the Swiss opened a two-game lead. The 17th seed maintained her being a break down, waiting for a chance to level the score. Bencic denied her opponent, responded well, and was on the court in the right place. She dictated the returns to break Fernandez to love, taking the set in 49 minutes.

Bencic notched 18 winners in her fight to tie up the match, dealing out a tough one for Fernandez, whose second serve struggled. She won just 42 percent and committed three double faults. With the Canadian teen in trouble, Bencic was intent on controlling the third set. The 14th seed held off the competition and broke for a 2-0 lead. When it looked as if a serve to love was going to occur for Bencic in the third, a double fault helped bring Fernandez to deuce.

She fought the next few points, scoring the break to get on the board and put the brakes on Bencic. She leveled the score after the fourth, consolidating the break, but was unable to keep up her strength. Bencic gained back the lead in the fifth but didn’t have the level of aggression to keep Fernandez in her rearview mirror. The Canadian made it three-all and created three breakpoints in the seventh. Bencic fought off two but double-faulted to secure the break for the 17th seed.

She took a 5-3 stand with a strong response on serve, putting Bencic on the ropes to save her time on the court. The Swiss fed on the pressure and blasted winners across to Fernandez, who couldn’t handle them. She still had the chance to serve for the match in the tenth, but a double fault brought up a breakpoint, which Bencic took on an error from the Canadian. Fernandez again took a step ahead of Bencic, who suffered critical errors to sit back under pressure.

With Fernandez in charge of her serve, she put everything she had left in the tank and pulled off three match points. A final serve scored her the biggest win at the major, shutting out Bencic in the 12th to complete a 2-hour and 51 minute match.  






Thursday, May 26, 2022

Alize Cornet sends Jelena Ostapenko to the exit at the French Open

Alize Cornet in action during the second round of the French Open 




Jelena Ostapenko was ousted by not only the competition but the crowd at the French Open Thursday night. In support for the French star, Alize Cornet battled the 13th seed through three sets on Philippe Chatrier, winning 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 on the grounds of Roland Garros. It was an upset of a former champion that made many in the stands happy that a French player could advance.

The two got together for a fifth meeting and the first one to occur on the clay court. They each have two wins against the other, and with Cornet mulling about retirement, she has been enjoying the time on Chatrier. The 33-year-old started her first round there against Misaki Doi, taking care of the Japanese player. Her battles against Ostapenko have been a mix of challenges and smooth victories. With both playing well in their openers, it assured there would be no smooth transition for either.

Cornet earned the opening service and drew errors from Ostapenko early. She nearly had a serve to love but watched the Latvian tally a pair of points before closing it. Ostapenko was all over the place on her serve, giving Cornet the break. The French star consolidated the second with a near-perfect run in the third for a 3-0 score. With majority of the crowd behind Cornet, it promised to be an uphill battle for Ostapenko. She experienced this more in the fourth, with her shots falling wide of the tramlines and barely any accuracy. A double fault ended the game, handing Cornet the double break where she, in turn, consolidated for a 5-0 lead.

The Latvian ran out of time and ideas on how to overcome her problems but with help from Cornet’s terrific return game, she closed out the set with a winner to end the first in 24 minutes. Ostapenko recorded 16 unforced errors and scored just eight points in the competition. Major changes had to come to her game to stave off elimination in the second stanza.

Cornet opened the set and almost had a seventh game win on the horizon. A mistake at 40-30 gotnb Ostapenko to deuce, where she produced an AD point, scoring the break. She gained momentum on serve after fighting Cornet on deuce through three breaks. With the 2-0 lead, she opened up three breakpoints in the third, let one get away, and clinch the double break. The Latvian consolidated to a four-game winning streak, but the fifth saw a change from Cornet, who refused to hand another break to the 21-year-old.

Performing better on serve, the French star gave the crowd something to cheer for, but Ostapenko won the sixth on a break to love, taking a 5-1 lead. In an attempt to stay alive in the set, Cornet tried to hold off the Latvian but made a critical miscue on game point. It opened the door once more for the 13th seed. On the first AD point, Ostapenko evened the match with a final error, putting the second set down in 31 minutes. Cornet’s second serve was not up to par and stood out as the biggest problem. She scored just one point on eight tries and two double faults while the Latvian’s offense was running high.

Improvements came quickly in the third, where she successfully broke Ostapenko. The 13th seed hunted down a chance to break back in the second but blew her breakpoint on a long return. The two got into a fight for the AD point that spanned five breaks and lasted ten minutes. In the end, it was Cornet taking the victory and a two-game lead in the decider. Tension became a problem for Ostapenko, who struggled with the first serve and didn’t have much from the second either. She surrendered another game, handing Cornet the double break. The Latvian landed good winners in the fourth, that assisted in her breaking back. Good court positioning and defense against Cornet helped her notch a second win, sitting one back from leveling the score.

Cornet held serve in the sixth to keep Ostapenko trailing by two games. The Latvian had a chance to get within one but double-faulted and erred to bring Cornet to deuce in the seventh. An error from the French star brought up an AD point for the 13th seed, who watched a return go into the net from the other end. Every point was dramatically played in the eighth, and on deuce, it took Cornet just once to hold her service and lead 5-3. Ostapenko complained to the umpire because she heard someone make a call on the court.

It was a moment that couldn’t be changed and forced Ostapenko to continue playing. Cornet earned two match points on a long ball from the Latvian, who then handed the victory with one last shot into the net, ending 1 hour and 41 minutes.


Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Belinda Bencic holds of Bianca Andreescu in straight sets at French Open

Belinda Bencic celebrates during a key point in her second-round match with Bianca Andreescu at the French Open. 



Belinda Bencic handled a tough match to get the revenge she waited three years for at the French Open Wednesday. The 25-year-old found a solution late in the second set against Bianca Andreescu, who surged back, but fell 6-2, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on the grounds of Roland Garros. It was an important win for the 14th seed, who leveled the series with the Canadian, who was responsible for denying her a major final. 

The reigning Olympic gold medalist met a former adversary for the first time since their 2019 US Open semifinal. It was there that the Canadian went on to win the championship, making a true name for herself. Since that time, Andreescu had struggled to play her game since early last year. Returning during the clay-court season was an easy transition after posting a quarterfinal appearance in Rome last week. 


Though she had a victory against Bencic, the Swiss had her strengths that matched better than the 21-year-old, who wanted to surpass her second-round personal best. Bencic’s schooling of Reka Jani on Monday was a prime example of comfortability and that even under pressure, she could be a dangerous opponent. 


In the opening game, she made that clear, holding Andreescu to a point for the break. Bencic consolidated in the second and watched the Canadian get on the board during her service. The Swiss went back to her mission of taking time away from Andreescu, who wasn’t playing on her favorite surface. Down two games, the 21-year-old held service in the fifth while feeding off the energy of the supporters in the stands. 


The 14th seed took care of business and went into the seventh determined to steal points away from Andreescu. Playing with two breakpoints, Bencic secured the break and a 5-2 lead on a ball long from the Canadian. To seal off the first set, Bencic dominated on serve, producing three set points. Andreescu saved one on a painted line winner but went down on a long ball near the feet of Bencic. 33 minutes had elapsed for the 14th seed, who notched just six winners but won 14 of 17 from the first serve. Andreescu was marked for ten unforced errors, proving that the Swiss had successfully taken time and energy away from the Canadian. 


Bencic rushed into the second, putting herself into a new gear that Andreescu couldn’t handle. The 14th seed achieved the first breakpoint, pushing again when the 21-year-old forced deuce. With the break in hand, Bencic cruised through her service game, allowing Andreescu a single point before taking a 2-0 lead. Andreescu tried to get her game in check and hold Bencic back while on serve. Reaching 40-15 looked to be a sign of success until the 14th seed made it to deuce. It only took the 25-year-old a break to gain the AD point and score the double break on the Canadian. 


Unforced errors from Andreescu gifted Bencic another easy service which she took on an ace down the T. Errors into the net from Bencic in the following game allowed Andreescu to secure a hold of serve and applause from the crowd. While she hoped that more would come from the lone victory, Bencic had other plans. The 14th seed swept the competition and took the pivotal 5-1 lead, leaving Andreescu to serve for an extension of the match. 


The Canadian capitalized on her opponent’s mistake and gave her own game a lifeline, Andreescu succeeded in a second win. Bencic served for a chance to serve it out, but errors into the net cost her dearly. The Swiss handed Andreescu three breakpoints in the eighth game before saving one. A second was on the Canadian, who sent it into the net, but a long ball from Bencic capped the game for the 21-year-old. 


Andreescu chipped another game from Bencic, who was rattled by the errors. With the score at 5-4, the Swiss were under pressure to shut her opponent out. A double fault from the 14th seed was a huge blunder but nailed down an ace to force deuce. Bencic brought up a match point but a long rally ended with her backhanding a shot into the net. Andreescu screamed in delight that deuce was back in but another chance for Bencic arrived. 


The Canadian smashed another match point away, but when Bencic gained another, she made sure it stuck. The Swiss star remained clutch on the court and on her third attempt, watched the return from Andreescu go long to breathe a sigh of relief after 1 hour and 21 minutes. 


“This is tennis and maybe I need a little drama,” Bencic said during her on-court interview. “I think Bianca is a great player and of course, it was going to be tight. I lost the focus just a little bit and I think that’s enough for her to come back. I’m happy that in the important moments I was strong and I think this is most important to show some fight.”


Bencic wouldn’t get to rest long as she would face another US Open finalist in Leylah Fernandez, who took her down in the Billy Jean King Cup two years ago. 



Victoria Azarenka avoids third set in hold off of Andrea Petkovic

Victoria Azarenka clenches her fist during her second-round match with Andrea Petkovic at the French Open.



Victoria Azarenka had an uphill battle but came through shining bright at the French Open. The 15th seed handled a major challenge from Andrea Petkovic, who nearly took the match to the distance, but was cut short in the second set tiebreak, giving the 32-year-old a 6-1,7-6(3) result on Court 14 on the grounds of Roland Garros. 


Two of tennis’s great veterans faced off for the fifth time in their careers and the first this season. In Berlin, they completed the cycle of playing one another on every surface, with Azarenka defeating the German in straight sets. This marked their first clay-court meeting since 2012 in Stuttgart where the 32-year-old also defeated Petkovic. 


Though she carries the series lead, the second round had them pitted with one clearing the first round easily, while the other struggled. The former world number one had to put in a lot of time during her rain-delayed match with Ana Bogdan that went three sets. While she hoped that going against Petkovic would bring familiar results, the 15th seed had to be on her feet for anything. 


The challenge came in the opening with Petkovic on the ball and trading off the first four points. When the German reached game point, Azarenka countered with a force of deuce that took them quite a distance. The 15th seed produced four breakpoints through six breaks until the break of serve was locked in. She quickly backed up the break-on serve and let Petkovic come into her serve in the third, allowing Azarenka a point. 


From that point on, the 32-year-old had her offense in check and went on a tear against the German in the fourth. A big response early in the fourth, allowing Azarenka to seal the break in the fifth and consolidate for a 5-1 lead in the following. She wasted no time in the seventh, gaining three set points, while Petkovic attempted to save them. The German stopped two but the inevitable victory went to Azarenka in 34 minutes. 


The 15th seed carried quite a momentum, winning 89 percent of points from the first serve and only eight winners.  Petkovic recorded four double faults and 16 errors showing tremendous inconsistencies in her gameplay. Azarenka read that and took her opening service by storm in the shape of a shutout. The next two games were won by Petkovic, who managed to slow down the pace and take the lead after three. 


The fourth was highly competitive, with Petkovic reaching game point only to see Azarenka force deuce. The German had an answer for her opponent and made sure that she closed out her service with a victory on the lone break. Azarenka brought the deficit back to one until Petkovic regained her two-game lead on serve. The 15th seed held serve in the seventh and dug into the eighth, trying to turn the tables back in her favor. 


Both players went into deuce where the game spanned three breaks until a moment for Azarenka allowed her to tie the score at four-all. Vulnerabilities on Azarenka’s service were enough for Petkovic to blow holes and reach double breakpoint. She finished off the 32-year-old for the break back, scoring a winner on a net-front lob. In a chance to take the set and force a decider, Petkovic forced deuce on serve and went two breaks against Azarenka. It was there that the forehand of the 15th seed did its job and caught Petkovic too close to stop a shot that flew by her to seal a five-all score. The 32-year-old had the balls in hand to serve for 6-5 and managed to hold serve. The pressure was on Petkovic to hold serve as the 15th seed was on the verge of going for the match. After forcing deuce, Azarenka gained a match point on the second break but was foiled by a terrific response from Petkovic. 


She turned things around to reach the AD point and force the 32-year-old into a tiebreak. It was there that Azarenka found her comfort level and quickly reached 4-1 with a minibreak in hand. She broke Petkovic once more on the seventh point and had her second match point sitting at 6-3. The 15th seed got into a rally and watched the German err into the net, bringing a close to a long set that took 1 hour and 14 minutes. It was the first time this season that Petkovic lost a tiebreak this season and one that she’ll regret. 


In a 1 hour and 48-minute match that saw speed and dramatic fights on the court, Azarenka will take her time on court and prepare for her third-round match Friday facing Jill Teichmann of Switzerland. 



 



Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Jelena Ostapenko rallies to win first round of the French Open

Jelena Ostapenko swings the backhand during her opening round match with Lucia Bronzetti at the French Open.



Jelena Ostapenko put on a tennis seminar early before testing her strengths to victory at the French Open Tuesday. The former singles champion handled Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti on Court 14 dealing out a 6-1, 6-4 win on the grounds of Roland Garros. 

The two faced each other in a pivotal opening round with the rookie going up against the 2017 champion. This time around, Ostapenko didn’t get a deep run into any of the earlier clay-court tournaments. She made first-round exits at both Madrid and Rome, leading her back to familiar territory. While she hoped that her new opponent would be an easy pass-through, the action would be tense for both as performance stood out for both but much more on the Latvian. 


Ostapenko opened the match, forcing an error from Bronzetti before laying out three winners to sweep the first game. The 23-year-old drew unforced errors against her opponent and fought off two winners to force one last error for the win. It was the only victory she would get as the 13th seed held serve despite two double faults committed. She went on to break Bronzetti in the fourth, holding her to a point. 


Ostapenko notched her third double fault of the set, but once again held Bronzetti back to lead 5-1. With one chance to stay alive in the set, the Italian came back from 15-40, forced deuce, and fell out on a forced error to end the set in 25 minutes for the Latvian. Despite recording four double faults, Ostapenko’s 16 winners took a toll on Bronzetti’s return game where she got back 6 of 23. 


The 23-year-old wanted the second set to be more competitive and proved it in the opening game. Gaining a 40-15 run on the Latvian, her opponent drew an error from Bronzetti and notched a winner to force deuce. Bronzetti scored an ace but the response from Ostapenko was strong. She waited till the second AD point to break Bronzetti and back it up on serve in the second. 


Three winners in the third allowed the 13th seed to achieve the double break, but the early momentum was over in the eyes of Bronzetti. The 23-year-old attacked after her opponent double-faulted, smacked a winner, and drew errors for a breakpoint. Bronzetti had the break on an error from Ostapenko that got her on the board. She backed up the break with strong offensive output, recording two winners that cut Ostapenko’s lead to one. 


The sixth became an important game for each of them as they opened scoring with three winners in a row. Ostapenko had game point but an error from her end and a winner from Bronzetti’s forced deuce. The two went four breaks until a key ace from the Latvian returned a two-game buffer zone. 


The Italian held in the seventh, but the 13th seed knew victory was close at hand. She notched two aces in the eighth and smashed a winner for the 5-3 score, hoping to break in the ninth. Bronzetti was having none of it and scored her first serve to love on Ostapenko which left her with a chance to level once again. The Latvian didn’t want any of that and drew Bronzetti into an early rally before smacking down a winner. She reached two match points before recording her sixth double fault on the day. She overcame the issue and won on her 38th winner to finish the match in one hour and seven minutes.