Australian Open [Women] - Grand Slam

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena leading 5-4....Serena showing her all round variety so far,I would like her to use her 'body serve' against Sabalenka
Great defense from Serena,she can still get around a court.I feel Serena's defense will win her the game today.
Serena with her 2SP.........with a great return as Sabalenka fhand netted
Serena 1st set 64

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena’s serving has been erratic, but her overall game has saved her so far. Sabalenka definitely hasn’t taken advantage of some of the gifts Serena was giving her.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena has to lift her first serve percentage ASAP a reason why she is down in the 2nd set
Too many second serves from Serena and Sabalenka breaks and leads 3-0
Again it is the 2nd serve of Serena lets her down and Sabalenka takes advantage and breaks leads 4-1

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

She needs to take some off and try to get her first serve in

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena serving at 21% first percentage is not helpful in the 2nd set

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka wins the 2nd set 62

Going to a decider in this match

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think the strategy was Serena you need to serve well, and she literally hasn’t adjusted to make sure she is serving well. She is in this based on her overall game, but she needs to make the adjustment to take the third set.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena survives her biggest test so far and defeats Sabalenka 64 26 64

Serena's movement and defensive skills really helped her today in this match

Serena will play the winner of the match between Halep and Swiatek in a q/final.

 

[kskate2]

Serena just squeaked by in this one

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[Vince Evert]

It looked to me like Sabalenka threw that last game away with 'all or nothing' tennis. Serena's years of experience and how to handle play the big points gave her the edge. Well done Serena Williams.

 

[Vince Evert]

McEnroe reckons the Australian Open should play out a 10 point tiebreak in the men's singles when it gets to two sets all. But that should equally apply to women competition when a match is at 1 set all , surely ?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Simona and Iga warming up on court this is their first meeting on a HC
3 games all.Halep serving well,though she has to keep up her first serve percentage
Windy conditions at RLA,which can really cause problems serving,the wind swirls around the stadium.
Love the variety of Iga.
Halep the 'counter puncher' really testing Iga in rallies,the teenager is equal to the task so far.
Iga with 3 BPs....Halep needs to get her first serve in
Iga breaks to love and will serve for the 1st set 5-3
Iga wins the 1st set 63

 

[Hoergren]

The more intelligent player? wins first set -Iga on top

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You can see Iga's game plan going hard and fast into the Halep fhand
Iga is rushing her shots early in the 2nd set,she needs to go back to what was working for her
Iga please do not do a drop shot from the baseline?
Halep consolidates her break and leads 3-0
Iga is making too many UFE and is playing with gay abandon
Halep to serve for the 2nd set 5-1......also Halep is going more into Iga's Bhand
Iga is now too casual hitting out over the lines.....she needs to focus Now even though she is behind in the score board.
Halep 6-1 2nd set
We are going to a decider.

 

[Hoergren]

Well - it's tennis another set another match - after the brilliant first set Iga completely fails in the second. That toilet break made the difference. Well played set by Halep who continues her consistent play

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am tennised out and will have a early night
Iga needs to go back and play the way she did in the 1st set
The 2nd set from Iga was just woeful
Kudos to Halep she turned it around got her first serve percentage up,going into Iga's bhand wing.
All the ladies matches have gone the distance.Some good quality matches.

 

[Hoergren]

Si Si mona did it again - regrouped her game in the second set - broke Iga's rythm. Iga had a "coffee break", which seemed to help a bit, but she never found her way back to the excellent gameplay, she had in first set, but we'll see a lot more to the teenager in the coming years. Well fought again Simona congrats, but prepare difficulties ahead -Serena waiting for you.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena is definitely going to have to clean it up a bit especially in getting a higher first serve percentage.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just finished watching the last few matches of the Iga v Halep match which I recorded before I went to bed

Iga,Halep rarely beats herself,you have to go and beat her
That 2nd set from you was just woeful after having control of the match?
This will be a hard lesson learnt.

Halep will play Serena in q/final match.We all know the tactics that will be used from the Halep camp.Serena again will be in for a physical encounter,hopefully she finds her 1st serve which abandoned her especially in the 2nd set against Sabalenka.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Monday's matches,................good to see 3 American ladies showing good form at the AO 2021.

A.Barty (1) vs S.Rogers.....this will be a tough encounter for Ash,she leads H2H 2-0

E.Mertens (18) vs K.Muchova (25) Mertens leads H2H 1-0

J.Brady (22) vs D.Vekic (28) Vekic leads H2H 1-0 (Clay,Rome)

E.Svitolina (5) vs J.Pegula Svitolina leads H2H 1-0.