Australian Open
On a day on which tennis was just a common side-issue, Ana got knocked out of the Australian Open following a tense 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat against world No. 17 Madison Keys. In circumstances not a single player on the tour would want to be in, the 28-year-old showed her class and fighting spirit, but could not avert her exit in Melbourne after two hours and 25 minutes of play.
Ana’s Australian Open campaign kicked-off on Tuesday as she faced home player Tammy Patterson, who received a wildcard to make her debut on a Grand Slam main draw. The former world No. 1 was nonetheless focused from the very beginning, as playing someone you’ve never before faced is always a tricky affair, especially in the opening round of a major.
From point one on, Ana dominated and dictated terms during the rallies. She didn’t face a single break point during the match and she steamrolled to a composed 6-2, 6-3 victory.
In round two, Anastasija Sevastova awaited, once ranked as high as No. 36 in the world, but now working on her comeback after being out from the tour for eighteen months. Ana led 4-3 in the opening set, when the match got suspended for a half an hour after a spectator made a tumble in the stands. The woman had to receive medical treatment before the players could continue their match.
Although the 20th seed afterwards declared that she was deeply impressed by that incident, she didn’t let her level drop. She won the two following games to clinch the opening set and continued her straightforward performance in the second.
The encounter with Madison Keys was one of the only two third round matches in which two seeded players faced each other, illustrative for the amount of upsets that were completed throughout the tournament.
Ana started the contest fearlessly and often moved towards the net to search the points. Keys, however, could rely upon a great arsenal of groundstrokes and applied a lot of pressure on Ana’s defence. Ana was the first to face two break points at 4-all, but she managed to clear them away with great flair. In the next game, the 28-year-old did take advantage of her break opportunities and she rushed away with the opening set.
Early in the second set, worrying signs came from Ana’s camp as coach Nigel Sears had to be taken to hospital for urgent medical attention. Play was interrupted for 50 minutes and after positive news from Nigel’s condition had reached the players, they both agreed to continue the match. Ana went twice a break up, but could not convert any of her chances to extend that lead. Keys was just that little bit more solid on the crucial points and forced the clash to a decider.
Also in the third set, Ana earned a break as she surged into a 3-0 lead, but again, never-surrendering Keys produced the turnaround. She won six out of the last seven games to emerge victorious.
“It was a tough match. I played so well in the first set and I won it. Thereafter, I felt like I produced some good games, created some opportunities but she came back strong with a very powerful game.”
“I thought she served better than me in the third set. She could get more on the first shot because of the serve. I felt that was the big difference.”
“I’m obviously a little bit disappointed but there’s a lot to look forward to.”
Results
R1: Ana vs. T. Patterson (WTA-459) 6-2, 6-3
R2: Ana vs. A. Sevastova (WTA-113) 6-3, 6-3
R3: Ana vs. M. Keys (WTA-17) 6-4, 4-6, 4-6
