Simona Halep saves match points to beat Lauren Davis in Australian Open thriller

Sport360 staff 14:04 20/01/2018
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  • Simona Halep saved three match points and served for victory four times in an extraordinary encounter against Lauren Davis before eventually booking her spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

    The top seeds in the women’s tournament have all had their dramas this week but none quite like this.

    American Davis traded toe to toe with the world number one for three hours and 44 minutes but Halep finally forced a match point and took it for a 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 victory.

    The 26-year-old said: “Definitely it was a very tough match. So long. I never played the third set so long. I was very happy I could stay and win it. I’m almost dead but I’m happy we could show great tennis.”

    The final set lasted two hours and 22 minutes while the 48 games equals the most for a women’s match in Australian Open history, tying the 1996 quarter-final between Chanda Rubin Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, which Rubin won 6-4, 2-6, 16-14.

    “I just kept playing. I just kept believing that it’s not over, even if she’s leading a little bit more,” said Halep, who next faces Naomi Osaka for a place in the quarter-finals.

    “I gave everything I had today, and actually, I’m really proud that I could stay there and win it. It was not easy at all. She played great.”

    Halep suffered an ankle injury in round one but looked to have shrugged it off in a convincing win over Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday.

    Her biggest problem here was Davis, ranked 76 but playing significantly above that, as she came from a break down to take the opening set in her first ever match against a world number one.

    Halep hit back to level and it appeared the danger might have passed but Davis simply would not go away.

    Three times the top seed served for a place in the fourth round at 5-4, 6-5 and 8-7 and three times Davis broke back.

    At 1.68cm for Halep and 1.57m for Davis, this was a clash between two of the smaller players on the women’s tour, but what they lack in height they more than make up for in speed and agility.

    The court coverage from both was exceptional but it was Davis’ belief that really stood out, the American having no qualms about unleashing big shots at the most important moments.

    On and on they went, the cooler Melbourne temperatures making things easier, but this was still an immense physical effort from both women.

    After saving four break points at 10-10, Davis looked poised to clinch victory when she moved to 0-40 on the Halep serve in the next game only for the Romanian to fight back.

    The effort was taking its toll on Davis’ toenails and she took an emergency medical time-out before saving five more break points in the next game.

    But at 13-13, Davis’ legs finally began to let her down, and, when Halep served for the match a fourth time, there was no coming back.

    “I think now I’m much stronger. Mentally, of course, I was talking a lot during the match. And yeah, I was a little bit frustrated because of the leg. I felt the pain all match, but I didn’t give up,” said Halep, who last year blew a 6-4, 3-0 lead to lose the French Open final to Jelena Ostapenko.

    “For sure I’m stronger mentally, and I could resist like for every moment in the match. That makes me very happy, and I think the big win is that I could handle it.”

    Davis may have walked away from the match without her toenails, but she takes plenty of positives from that monster battle. She also paid tribute to Halep.

    “I have always looked up to Halep, because she’s probably like two inches taller than me. She’s an incredible player. She uses her speed to take time away and rush her opponent. She’s super agile and dynamic around the court. That’s exactly how I play,” said Davis.

    “Yeah, I have always looked up to her and I think we have shown the world that we can be the best, yeah.”

    Osaka crushed home hearts on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Australian Ashleigh Barty, the No. 18 seed.

    “I feel really happy but also I’m kind of sorry because I know you guys really wanted her to win. Thank you very much because I’ve never played in an atmosphere like this. I’ve always wanted to play against an Australian player because on TV it always seems really cool,” a gracious Osaka told the crowd on Margaret Court Arena.

    Halep beat Osaka in their two previous meetings in two tight three-setters and the top seed is well aware of the challenge of the power-hitting Japanese.

    “Osaka is hitting strong, so strong. I have to be strong, if I can, on my legs, and just stay there, playing fast, opening the court, as I do all the time,” said Halep.

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