Serena Williams Topples World No.1 Halep To Reach Australian Open Quarters - UBITENNIS
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Serena Williams Topples World No.1 Halep To Reach Australian Open Quarters

The former world No.1 moves to three wins away from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time grand slam title record.

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16th seed Serena Williams has fired a warning shot to the rest of the draw at the Australian Open after downing world No.1 Simona Halep 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in the fourth round.

Gunning after a record-equalling 24th grand slam title in Melbourne, the 37-year-old went off guns blazing before engaging in an almighty tug of war with her opponent. The pair lit up the Rod Laver Arena with a series of gut-busting baseline rallies that featured numerous angle shots. Williams prevailed with the help of nine aces and 44 winners to progress to the last eight in Melbourne for the 12th time in her career.

“It was a really intense match and there were some incredible points. But, you know, I love playing tennis and I love being out here (on court).” Williams said during her on-court interview.
“It’s really cool to be back out here and playing on this court.”

The highly anticipated clash between two of the top players on the women’s tour turned out to be a Williams annihilation at first. The power of the 23-time grand slam champion overwhelmed Halep as she roared through the first set in just 20 minutes. Making the world No.1 look extremely ordinary. After dropping her opening service game, Williams went on to win six games in a row. Hitting the ball deep towards the baseline and using angle shots to move her opponent around the court. The clinical first set was closed out with a 177 km/h ace out wide from Williams.

Following her comprehensive start, Williams soon encountered some stiff resistance from Halep in set number two. Drawing applause from the Melbourne crowd who were cheering for a competitive match. The Romanian began to capitalize on errors made from across the court as she matched Williams game-by-game.

The resurgence of the top seed eventually rewarded her as she tamed Williams’ aggressiveness on the court. Boasting a 5-4 lead in the second, a double-handed backhand down the line granted Halep break point and the chance to take proceedings into a decider. She was able to seize the moment with the help of a Williams error on the following point. Prompting a mini celebration by Halep.

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, both women illustrated their highest level of tennis throughout the decider. Williams’ lightning shots was muzzled by some emphatic play from Halep. Six games into the deciding set, Williams fended off a trio of break points during a marathon service game to keep her chances alive. A game later, she secured the break for 4-3 with the help of a Halep forehand slamming into the net. That break was enough as the American rallied towards the finish line. Sealing the win on her first match point after a Halep forehand drifted long.

“I really needed to elevate my game. She’s (Halep) the number one player in the world and there’s a reason why. She’s just a great player.” The 37-year-old reflected about her performance.
“In order to stay out there I had to play a little like I knew I could and I did. I think that was the difference.”

Williams’ reward is a showdown with Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday. The Czech seventh seed crushed Garbine Muguruza in her fourth round match earlier in the day. It will be the fourth meeting between the two with Williams leading their head-to-head 2-1.

“If Serena is playing at her best, then it’s tough because she can serve, put a lot of pressure on her returns, but she can also miss. So we will see.” Pliskova commented about the upcoming match.

The win is Williams’ first over a world No.1 player since Victoria Azarenka at the 2013 Brisbane International.

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Coco Gauff And Aryna Sabalenka Struggle Through In Indian Wells Openers

The duo were pushed to three sets in their first matches played at this year’s WTA 1000 event.

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Coco Gauff admits she didn’t play her best tennis at Indian Wells on Saturday after coming through a rollercoaster three-set battle. 

The world No.3 needed more than two hours to oust France’s Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Gauff found herself trailing multiple times during the match. After losing the opening set, the reigning US Open champion then had to battle back from a 0-4 deficit in the decider. Capitalising on some tentative hitting from Burel who was bidding to record the biggest win of her career. 

Despite prevailing, it was a far from vintage performance from Gauff who hit six double faults and 14 unforced errors during the first set alone. She also struggled behind her second serve, winning just 12 out of 36 points played. 

“I think for me it’s just getting through that match definitely meant a lot,” Gauff said. “Could have easily thrown in the towel. But honestly, I was just telling myself, like, win or lose, I don’t want to have any regrets on the court. I want to be like I gave myself the best opportunity to win, and I did that.
“Am I proud of how I played? Not really, to be honest. But the fight, I am proud of. I am eager to improve. I think it wasn’t my best tennis at all. I think I just have a lot of improvement that I can do to get better.”

The 19-year-old has become the first teenager in the last 15 years to have won 50 or more matches at WTA 1000 events. She will next play Lucia Bonzetti.

“That’s pretty cool,” Gauff commented on her latest milestone. “I feel like I have a lot of stats and stuff like that. Hopefully I can close this chapter of my life off good. I’m really happy with how my teenage years went.” 

Sabalenka avoids major upset 

Aryna Sabalenka was another player to experience trouble during their opening match after outlasting Peyton Sterns 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-6 (8), in a clash that lasted almost three hours. The world No.2 was on the verge of losing and had to save four match points when down 4-5 in the final set. Despite that blip, she held her nerve to break back before prevailing in a tightly contested tiebreaker. 

“Wow, I think I was right when I see this tattoo of a tiger and I was fighting today like a tiger,” said Sabalenka. “It’s just crazy what happened. She’s an unbelievable player.
“She played crazy tennis. She said at the net, ‘I had you,’ so she’s right. I was probably a little bit lucky to get this win. Super happy to get through this.”
“I didn’t play my best tennis and she was crushing it like crazy. I was just trying to stay in the game and keep fighting for every point. But this match definitely goes into the book of craziest matches and the best matches of my career.”

Sabalenka is hoping to go one step better in Indian Wells than 12 months ago when she reached the final before losing to Elena Rybakina, who has pulled out of the tournament due to gastrointestinal issues. 

Awaiting the Belrussian in the next round will be Emma Raducanu in what will be the first meeting on the Tour. 

Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka posted a convincing 7-5, 6-3, win over world No.15 Luidmila Samsonova. It is the first time she has beaten a top 20 player since returning to competitive tennis following the birth of her child. 

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Caroline Wozniacki Expresses Delight After Vekic Win, Ons Jabeur Crashes Out

Caroline Wozniacki earned a big win over Donna Vekic at Indian Wells while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

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Caroline Wozniacki is into the third round at Indian Wells after toppling Donna Vekic 7-6(3) 6-3 while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

The former Australian Open champion produced a resilient and clinical display to knock out Vekic in straight sets.

It was a clinical display on return as Wozniacki neutralized the Croatian’s serve to break on three occasions to reach the third round.

Speaking after the match Wozniacki described Indian Wells as one of the best tournaments in the world and was happy with the performance, “Donna is a great competitor, great player. I thought we both played really well today. Just happy to be through this one,” the 33 year-old told the WTA website.

“I’m here because I love to be here. You know, I’m lucky enough that I have been given some wildcards so I’m able to play these big tournaments and compete against the best players in the world.”

Wozniacki will now face Katie Volynets in the third round after the American stunned sixth seed Ons Jabeur.

The world number 131 recorded the biggest victory of her career against the out-of-sorts Tunisian in a 6-4 6-4 win.

In an interview after the match Volynets described how much it meant to her to beat one of her idols, “I’m so honored to have a wild card here and I’m so honored to play Ons,” the wildcard told the WTA website.

“I’ve been watching her on TV for years so it’s just such an honor to play here on this court against such a wonderful player. I’m definitely pleased with how I was able to execute today.

“I think it was very close the entire time. She was throwing in some amazing drop shots and slices and injecting some pace. I’m glad I was able to overcome that.”

The winner of Wozniacki and Volynets will play the winner of Veronika Kudermetova against Angelique Kerber.

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Simona Halep To Make Tennis Return In Miami

Simona Halep has a wildcard into the Miami Open.

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Simona Halep will make her return to tennis in Miami after receiving a wildcard for the tournament.

The Romanian hasn’t played competitively for 19 months with her last appearance being a first round defeat to Daria Snigur at the 2022 US Open.

After her appearance in New York, Halep would be banned for four years from competitive tennis after failing a doping test.

A lengthy appeal process followed from Halep which eventually saw her ban reduced by the Court Of Arbitration For Sport to nine months, therefore allowing her to resume competitive tennis with immediate effect.

It hasn’t taken long for Halep to make her next step as the Romanian announced on Instagram that she has received a wildcard for the Miami Open.

It will be interesting to see what shape Halep is in as it would have made more logical sense for the former Roland Garros Champion to begin her comeback on clay.

The 32 year-old has made nine appearances in Miami and her best performance has been reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019.

Time will tell whether Halep can repeat her past success with the Miami Open starting on the 19th of March.

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