Simona Halep saves match point to edge Ons Jabeur in Dubai Duty Free thriller

David Cooper - Writer 09:43 20/02/2020
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Simona Halep was given all she could handle by Ons Jabeur

    Top seed Simona Halep survived a gallant challenge from Ons Jabeur on Wednesday, fighting off a match point before claiming a 1-6 6-2 7-6 (7) victory and a place in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

    Australian Open finalist and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza was also stretched by qualifier Veronika Kudermetova before emerging with a 7-5 4-6 6-4 victory, while second seed Karolina Pliskova enjoyed a more comfortable 6-1 6-2 win over Kristina Mladenovic.

    The outcome of the enthralling battle between Halep and Jabeur hung in the balance until the very last ball, with Halep leading 4-1 in the final set and Jabeur serving for victory at 6-5 and holding a match point at 7-6 in the tiebreak, before Halep secured victory on her fourth match point to bring the thrilling two hour battle to a dramatic conclusion.

    “In the end I don’t know how I could finish that in a right way,” said the relieved world number two. “It’s really tough to read her game because she doesn’t give rhythm. She can make unbelievable shots; she can miss a little bit too easy. After a long period that I didn’t play matches, after that semi-final that I lost in Australia, I’m really happy that I could just fight till the end and to turn it around even if I was leading 4-1. I was down in the tiebreak. But it was a good match.”

    Jabeur was bitterly disappointed that she had come so close but ended up with nothing to show for her efforts.

    “Unfortunately I didn’t play my best tennis today,” she said. “There is a lot of positive things in this match, but I feel like a lot of negativity right now, which is going to take time for me to be in a better spot I hope. The only thing going to replay in my head is match point. Should have been patient more. But then the stress and everything, it wasn’t really easy. Yeah, it’s going to hurt for a few days, that’s for sure.”

    Pliskova, who also beat Mladenovic at the recent Australian Open, never looked in danger. But, despite the score suggesting her victory was overwhelming, she had to keep on her toes against an aggressive opponent who produced several excellent winners.

    “Although the score was easy, she was still fighting in the second set,” said Pliskova. “I think it was positive that I really stayed in because she could make it difficult for me if I don’t really stay in the match. That’s what actually happened in Australia. I think she got much better in the second set. It was also getting a little bit here. I think I made it easier for myself that I just stayed there every point.”

    Muguruza was never able to take control at any stage of her two hour 25-minute confrontation with Kudermetova.

    “Well, I think she’s playing great,” said Muguruza.. “Nowadays, even if it’s not the biggest name, every match is tough. I think she played super aggressive, super big serves. There’s a lot of things that I could have done better. But I’m excited that I gave myself another opportunity to be in the quarter-finals, just staying in the fight because she was playing great, not giving up until the last point. I’m just happy that I get these tough matches on my side. Honestly, the difference is very, very small.”

    Muguruza will next play qualifier Jennifer Brady, who followed up her defeat of two-time champion Elina Svitolina by fighting her way to a 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory over Marketa Vondrousova. After Vondrousova led by a set and 4-1, Brady, ranked 52, claimed the final five games of the second set and then won the last five games of the third. She will now compete in her second quarter-final of the year as a qualifier, following her impressive run last month in Brisbane where after qualifying she defeated both Maria Sharapova and world number one Ashleigh Barty before losing to Petra Kvitova.

    Recommended