Maria Sharapova held off 18-year-old Swiss rising star Belinda Bencic 7-5 7-5 under the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne to reach the quarter finals at the Australian Open. It was a tough match for Sharapova who went down a break twice in the first set but turned around the match at 3-4 in the first set by winning four of her next five games to win it 7-5.
Sharapova, former Australian Open champion in 2008, fired 58 winners and 21 aces but made 46 unforced errors and converted just 4 of her 16 break point chances. Bencic hit 10 winners to 19 unforced errors. In the first set Sharapova earned at least a break point in each Bencic’s service game.
In the first set Sharapova earned break points in the first two Bencic’s service games but Bencic was the first player to break serve after a double fault and a simple error from Sharapova. Both players traded breaks in four consecutive games for 4-4. Sharapova held her serve in the ninth game for 5-4. Five of the first nine games went to deuce. Sharapova got a set point on Bencic’s serve but Bencic managed to hold her serve. At 6-5 Sharapova broke Bencic’s serve to clinch a hard-fought first set.
The first game of the second set lasted 11 minutes. Both players went on serve until 2-2. Bencic earned her first break point but Sharapova saved it. Sharapova had a break point herself but Bencic held her serve.
The first 11 service games of the second set went on serve. Until 4-4 Sharapova earned only a break point chance. The match was decided at 6-5 in the Russian’s favour when Sharapova fought back from 15-30 down on Bencic’s serve to take the crucial break at deuce. Sharapova was unable to capitalise her first match point, as she hit her backhand into the net but won a challenge on her second match point on a deep baseline shot after 125 minutes.
“This must be the first match I won on a challenge. It felt like a clean ball. It felt like it was on the line and I was really positive about it. Worst case scenario, it would have gone back to deuce”, said Sharapova
“These are the players that will ultimately take our spot. I was really focuse today. I knew she had a great game and has had a great season. I felt like there were a few ups and downs in the beginning after not taking some of my chances. I think it would have been really easy for me just to go away and let her run away with the first set. I am glad I was still there and kept motivating myself to try to open up some more doors and finally break through. Overall, it felt like a quality match. It was our first meeting, but I am sure we’ll be playing many more times in the future. It’s always great to play against a player who has been coming up for the first time”.
Sharapova will face a blockbuster quarter final against Serena Williams who cruised past Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-1. It will be a re-match of last year’s final won by Williams.
“Serena is obviously a big favourite coming into that match, and what a year she had. It was a great match last year. I came quite close in the second set but not close enough. I look forward to playing the best in the world, and that’s what she has proven to be for the last many years. It would be a great match”, said Sharapova.
