It was a tough day for World No.1 Simona Halep . The Romanian dropped her first set of the 2018 Australian Open, but came back to eventually defeat the United States’ World no.76 Lauren Davis 4-6, 6-4, 15-13. The match lasted three hours and forty-five minutes.
Halep, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, dropped the first set to the heavy-hitting Davis, whose backhand and drive volley shots in particular proved to be in inspired form. She won the set despite Halep having led by a break in the first. The former Roland Garros finalist took the lead in the second in the third game as Davis’ big game inevitably started to produce some errors.
Halep saved a break point in the sixth game, and nearly threatened a double break, but eventually tied the match at one set all.
It seemed Halep was set for a stroll through the deciding set when she broke early. She held quickly in what was a run of nine straight points for the top seed. However, Davis’ fighting spirit saw the American claim a break of her own, forcing the Romanian to miss after a stunning defensive point.
There were four breaks of serve from 4-4, as Halep twice failed to serve out the match. Halep broke again at 7-7, but her reluctance to come forward proved costly, as Davis was able to stay in the game, and the American retrieved the break yet again.
Both women finally managed to hold serve for a few games. At 10-11 Davis brought up three match points at 0-40 against the Halep serve. The Romanian saved all three to hold and extend the match.
Davis then needed treatment on her foot, as a toenail appeared to have fallen off. The American, in obvious discomfort, saved five break points immediately following the treatment.
At 13-13, with the match guaranteed to match the longest ever Women’s Singles match at the Australian Open in terms of games played, Halep broke again. This time the Romanian finally served out the match, despite a typically gutsy effort from Davis. The match was sealed as Davis missed a forehand into the tramlines.
Halep, who came into the match with concerns over her ankle said: “my ankle is – I don’t even know how my ankle is as I don’t feel it. I”m almost dead.”
Halep will play either 18th Ashleigh Barty or Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Should Halep win that one, she will at least equal her best-ever run at the Australian Open, reaching the quarter-finals.
American 17th seed Madison Keys is into the second week, after she defeated Romania’s Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4. The 2017 US Open finalist has quietly moved her way through to the second week without dropping a set. Keys will face 8th seed Caroline Garcia in the fourth round. Garcia defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
