Photos:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7836743.stm (first round)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7859843.stm (Women's Doubles final)
Daniela is coming off a 2008 in which she reached her first Major semi-final at the Australian Open, but a stress-fracture in her right heel sidelined her for ten weeks from April to June. She came back at Wimbledon, but had lost her fitness, and went 10:13 for the rest of the year (overall 22:20 for 2008), dropping from #9 at the end of 2007 to her current #21.
Daniela started 2009 with a 6-7(1) 6-4 6-0 to #39 Sara Errani in the first round of Brisbane, which implies that she has not regained her fitness during the off-season. Daniela led 7-6 4-4* with break-points, then lost every single game left in the match!
At Sydney, Daniela trounced #72-ranked qualifier Klára Zakopalová 6-3 6-0, made a 3-1* start to her second-round match against #10 Agnieszka Radwanska, but lost 6-3 7-5 - a far cry from her 6-2 6-2 thrashing of Radwanska in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2008!
Daniela starts against #57 Casey Dell'Acqua, whom she's never played before.
The Australian had a famous run at last year's Australian Open, where she upset #15 Patty Schnyder 4-6 7-5 8-6 in the second round and #18 Amélie Mauresmo 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the third round. She also beat #14 Nicole Vaidišová 6-1 3-6 6-4 en route to the fourth round of Indian Wells, #9 Marion Bartoli 6-7 6-3 6-2 en route to the third round of the French Open, and #12 Patty Schnyder 6-4 3-6 6-1 en route to the third round of Wimbledon.
But despite these fine results at the Majors, Dell'Acqua barely broke even with a 19:19 win/loss record for 2008, and didn't play from mid-September to the end of the year because of shoulder-injuries.
Nick Bollettieri may think Dell'Acqua can upset Daniela, but Dell'Acqua has struggled to handle the home-pressure in Australia this time: her only match of 2009 has been a 6-1 6-2 loss to #38 Sara Errani in the first round of Sydney, which does little to frighten me as a Daniela-fan!
Australian Open: Day 1 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2892
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(19) Daniela Hantuchová (SVK) vs. Casey Dell'Acqua (AUS) - First meeting
It's no surprise that the schedulers chose this match for the opening night-session of the tournament. Twelve months ago, Hantuchová reached the first Major singles semi-final of her career in Melbourne, while Dell'Acqua captured the hearts of the host-nation with a run to the last 16, taking out Patty Schnyder and Amélie Mauresmo along the way.
Since then, however, Hantuchová's second stint in the top ten has been hijacked by a foot stress-fracture that took a couple of months to heal, but seems to have had more lasting implications for the 25-year-old's confidence.
For her part, Dell'Acqua has hit a plateau in recent months, and admits to feeling the pressure of expectation after last year's exploits.
Hantuchová's fluid style has taken her to greater heights, but Dell'Acqua will be riding a wave of partisan support. Whatever happens, statuesque Slovak versus plucky 'Aussie battler' is the stuff under-lights magic is made of.
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2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Round 1
Nick Bollettieri (Friday 16th January 2009)
http://nickstennispicks.com/2009/01/16/2009-australian-open-nicks-picks-womens-singles-round-1/
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Daniela Hantuchová (SVK) vs. Casey Dell'Acqua (AUS)
There is no question that Hantuchová has the strokes to win consistently, but she needs to stay healthy. She comes in ranked #21, but has been as high as #5 in the world.
Dell'Acqua reached the fourth round last year, and will have the fans behind her 100%. This should be good.
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+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] d. Casey Dell'Acqua, 7-6 (13/11) 6-4
BBC Red Button showed this match from 4-5* in the first set (prior to which I followed live scores at www.australianopen.com).
Daniela played very poorly in the three games before the tiebreak, but much more like her usual self from the tiebreak onwards. Dell'Acqua is a left-handed player who likes to go for broke on her groundstrokes, so it isn't easy to get into a rhythm against her.
Dell'Acqua is an even bigger choker than Daniela. She served for the first set at *5-4 and *6-5, and wasted five set-points (one at *6-5 and four in the tiebreak).
The second set was much more comfortable for Daniela, as she cruised through on the strength of a single break in the first game. She had her first match-point in a game of five deuces at 5-3*; then at *5-4, she recovered from 0/40 to serve out the match.
Daniela's form was a far cry from that which took her to the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2008, and will need to improve quite a lot if she is to get past Alizé Cornet in a likely third-round match.
Sam Smith observed that Daniela had been doing a lot of physical training in the gym, and speculated that she was putting fitness-training ahead of tennis-training to set herself up for later in the year, "and if she gets a few results [now], she gets a few results".
HANTUCHOVÁ *@* * @ @T 7(13) DELL'ACQUA @* * *@ @ 6(11)
The match was first on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session and started at 19:46 AEDT, but the BBC didn't join it at the start because they decided to show the third set of Anna Chakvetadze v Anne Keothavong live instead. That's why there are so many gaps in my scores! ;-)
Daniela serving 0-0: 15/0. 15/30. Broken.
Dell'Acqua serving 1-0: 30/0. 40/30. Held.
Daniela serving 0-2: 15/0. 30/15. 40/30. Held.
Dell'Acqua serving 2-1: 15/30. Broken.
This is where it gets interesting, as Dell'Acqua is known to fold under pressure - especially at home in Australia so far this year.
Daniela serving 2-2: 15/0. Held.
Dell'Acqua serving 2-3: 15/0. Held.
Daniela serving 3-3: 40/0. Held.
Long delay at this changeover... I later learned that Dell'Acqua took a medical time-out.
Anna Chakvetadze just beat Anne Keothavong, but BBC Red Button is messing around with results and music instead of joining this match immediately. :mad:
Dell'Acqua serving 3-4: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/40. Held.
Daniela serving 4-4: 0/40 (BP #1). 15/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Will Dell'Acqua fold now, serving for the set? Damb BBC Red Button still showing a "COMING UP" screen instead of joining this match already, but it is joining it now... (21:18 AEDT).
Dell'Acqua serving 5-4: 15/0. Pinpoint serve out wide - right in the corner - induced Daniela to hit a crosscourt backhand return wide. 15/15. Dell'Acqua netted a forehand. 15/30. Dell'Acqua hit a wide-angled serve out wide, pushing Daniela into the tramlines, but Daniela bunted back a short crosscourt backhand return into the middle of the court with an awkward low bounce, inducing Dell'Acqua to spray a forehand long. 15/40 (BP). Dell'Acqua sprayed a forehand long to give Daniela the break back.
Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:21 AEDT): "Looks like a bit of a ding-dong battle in the first night-match on Rod Laver Arena. Aussie Casey Dell'Acqua and Daniela Hantuchová are locked at 5-5."
Daniela serving 5-5: A deep ball from Dell'Acqua forced Daniela to net a one-handed backhand. 0/15. Double fault (second serve wide). The umpire told the crowd not to call out between first and second serves. 0/30. Dell'Acqua netted a forehand. 15/30. Daniela's short-angled crosscourt forehand induced Dell'Acqua to hit a backhand just long. 30/30. Daniela on the third stroke dumped a backhand into the net. 30/40 (BP #1). Daniela got away with a short second serve as Dell'Acqua's would-be forehand return-winner down the line clipped the netcord and sat up nicely for Daniela to hit a crosscourt forehand; Dell'Acqua netted a backhand. Daniela pumped her fist. 40/40. Daniela sprayed a forehand long. Ad Dell'Acqua (BP #2). Ace #5: out wide: just inside the sideline. Deuce #2. Daniela hit a loose backhand long. Ad Dell'Acqua (BP #3). Dell'Acqua's crosscourt forehand forced a defensive backhand lob from Daniela; Dell'Acqua stranded Daniela with a deep crosscourt backhand, but hit a backhand would-be winner long by a whisker. Deuce #3. Dell'Acqua spread Daniela with a crosscourt backhand return + backhand down the line to force a short sliced backhand, which she dispatched with an off-forehand winner just inside the sideline. Ad Dell'Acqua (BP #4). Daniela hit a woefully short second serve, and on the seventh stroke, sprayed a down-the-line forehand wide to give Dell'Acqua the fifth break of the match.
The match so far: a lot of tension, a lot of unforced errors, and a lot of breaks. I must admit that Daniela is playing terribly at the moment, while Dell'Acqua hit some good shots in that game.
John Lloyd said Daniela's loss from 6-0 2-0 up in last year's semi-final against Ana Ivanovic "scarred her a lot".
Dell'Acqua serving 6-5: First serve down the middle forced a short, weak backhand return; Dell'Acqua pounded a deep crosscourt backhand just inside the sideline, forcing Daniela to bunt a defensive forehand lob wide. John Lloyd: "And that's the play against Hantuchová: if you can just get her on the move early in the rallies, she doesn't move that well." 15/0. Daniela netted a weak forehand return. 30/0. Daniela dominated the point with a deep crosscourt forehand return onto the baseline + crosscourt forehand onto the sideline to force a floater from Dell'Acqua; Daniela hit a crosscourt forehand drive-volley from no-man's-land back behind Dell'Acqua, forcing her to bunt a right-handed forehand wide. 30/15. Dell'Acqua challenged her serve being called wide: Hawk-Eye showed that it clipped about 10% of the sideline. A deep ball from Daniela forced Dell'Acqua to hit a forehand long. 30/30. Daniela went for an ambitious short-angled crosscourt backhand, but it clipped the netcord and fell wide. Daniela shook her head sadly. 40/30 (Dell'Acqua SP #1). Double fault #1 (second serve wide). 40/40. Dell'Acqua took the initiative, but hit a crosscourt backhand just wide. Ad Daniela (BP #1). She hit a cheap off-forehand return long. Deuce #2. Double fault (second serve long). Ad Daniela (BP #2). Dell'Acqua opened up the court with a wide serve, but hit a down-the-line forehand just wide. She dropped her racket.
Two costly double faults let Daniela off the hook.
Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:49 AEDT): "We're currently enjoying a classic women's match on Rod Laver Arena, and by that I mean a feast of unforced errors, breaks of serve and momentum-swings. Casey Dell'Acqua and Daniela Hantuchová are in a tiebreak at the end of the first set."
6-6 tiebreak (all scores Hantuchová/Dell'Acqua):
{*0/0} Daniela on the third stroke netted an off-backhand.
{0/1*} Dell'Acqua hit an excellent short-angled serve onto the sideline, dragging Daniela outside the tramlines, but Daniela showed her excellent reach to hit a deep two-handed backhand return down the line (accompanied by a cute, high-pitched moan), forcing Dell'Acqua to bunt back a short, weak forehand that sat up nicely for Daniela to hit an off-forehand winner. Daniela said "c'mon".
{1/1*} Daniela took the initiative with an off-backhand return to force a short backhand from Dell'Acqua; Daniela went to the net behind a crosscourt backhand, and hit a "steady" off-backhand punch-volley winner.
{*2/1} Dell'Acqua's backhand clipped the netcord and dropped dead for a winner. She apologised with her palm.
{*2/2} Dell'Acqua forced a weak ball and hit a crosscourt backhand winner.
{2/3*} Daniela dumped a forehand into the net.
{2/4*} Daniela hit a lovely short-angled crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline, forcing Dell'Acqua to net a backhand. Dell'Acqua threw her racket.
{*3/4} Daniela opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand, but dumped a down-the-line forehand halfway up the net.
{*3/5} Dell'Acqua dumped a backhand return into the net.
{4/5*} Dell'Acqua opened up the court with a swinging serve out wide, but dumped a down-the-line forehand halfway up the net. It's a comedy of errors at the moment.
{5/5*} Dell'Acqua stranded Daniela with a crosscourt backhand, and hit a down-the-line backhand winner deep into the corner.
{*5/6: Dell'Acqua SP #2} Ace #6: out wide: just inside the sideline.
{*6/6} Daniela thought she won the point with a deep crosscourt backhand, but Dell'Acqua hit a stunning backhand pass-winner down the line.
{6/7*: Dell'Acqua SP #3} Dell'Acqua on the third stroke slapped a wild forehand into the net.
{7/7*} Dell'Acqua hit a serve down the middle + fierce crosscourt backhand winner onto the sideline.
{*7/8: Dell'Acqua SP #4} A high, looping ball to Dell'Acqua's backhand-corner induced her to spray a wild crosscourt backhand long. Good mix-up from Daniela.
{*8/8} Daniela serve out wide + deep forehand down the line - just inside the baseline - forced Dell'Acqua to hit a backhand wide.
{9/8*: Daniela SP #1} Dell'Acqua's backhand return clipped the netcord and dropped dead for a winner. Daniela looked like she didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
{9/9*} Dell'Acqua mishit a crosscourt backhand just wide.
{*10/9: Daniela SP #2} A deep forehand return just inside the baseline forced Daniela to hit an uncontrollable backhand wide - just too quick for Daniela to move her feet.
{*10/10} Dell'Acqua punished Daniela's second serve with a stunning backhand return-winner down the line.
{10/11*: Dell'Acqua SP #5} Dell'Acqua came to the net behind a crosscourt forehand, but Daniela saved it magnificently with a forehand pass-winner down the line!
{11/11*} Dell'Acqua mishit a crosscourt backhand lob wide.
{*12/11: Daniela SP #3} Daniela hit a first serve into Dell'Acqua's backhand hitting-zone, but the return was short and rose up nicely for Daniela to hit a lovely backhand dropshot down the line; Dell'Acqua ran it down and hit a one-handed crosscourt backhand just wide - well judged by Daniela, who had come to the net to cut off such a response. Daniela won the first set 7-6 (13/11) at 20:53 AEDT (1h07m).
What a tiebreak! All those saved set-points, and the quality of tennis was much higher - especially from Daniela - than in the games of the set.
Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:53 AEDT): "Casey Dell'Acqua has five set-points, but, to the disappointment of the home-crowd, she loses the first set 13/11 on a tiebreak. Daniela Hantuchová isn't exactly renowned for her deadliness in closing out matches, though, so still hope for the Aussie. That set took over an hour, and featured more than 50 unforced errors."
Dell'Acqua is a talented groundstroker, but just can't take her chances.
HANTUCHOVÁ @* * * * * 6 DELL'ACQUA * * * * 4
Dell'Acqua serving 0-0: First serve out wide: crosscourt forehand return just wide. 15/0. Daniela netted a backhand return. 30/0. Daniela mishit a backhand return very wide. 40/0. At last Daniela got a return in: a backhand down the line - and that was enough to induce an error from Dell'Acqua. 40/15. Daniela played a lovely spreading rally, finishing with a deep backhand winner down the line. 40/30. Daniela's deep backhand return just inside the baseline forced Dell'Acqua to net a backhand. 40/40. Daniela's crosscourt backhand forced Dell'Acqua to hit a crosscourt forehand wide. Ad Daniela (BP). Double fault (second serve just long).
Wow - I realise Dell'Acqua is an even bigger choker than Daniela, but to drop serve from 40/0!
Daniela serving 1-0: Dell'Acqua netted a forehand return. 15/0. Dell'Acqua slapped a wild forehand into the net. 30/0. Dell'Acqua hit an off-forehand return-winner. 30/15. First serve out wide (just inside the sideline) + crosscourt forehand forced Dell'Acqua to net a backhand. 40/15. Dell'Acqua's down-the-line forehand clipped the netcord, inducing Daniela to hit a down-the-line forehand long. 40/30. Dell'Acqua netted a forehand, and yelled.
Dell'Acqua serving 0-2: Dell'Acqua's crosscourt forehand forced Daniela to hit a backhand long. 15/0. Deep first serve out wide - on the service-line - forced Daniela to spray a backhand return wide. 30/0. Serve out wide + down-the-line backhand winner, but Daniela didn't move as well as I would have expected. 40/0. Ace down the middle called wide; Dell'Acqua wasted a Hawk-Eye challenge. Double fault (second serve wide). 40/15. Daniela hit an off-backhand return just wide.
Sam Smith: "It's becoming a difficult watch. It's intriguing because you just don't know who is gonna hold it together."
Well, I certainly like Daniela's chances at a set and a break up, against an even bigger choker than she is! I'm feeling a lot more comfortable than I did in the first set.
John Lloyd said that both girls were great ball-strikers, but that Dell'Acqua was one-dimensional, whereas Daniela "tends to be a little bit flat and goes for a lot of shots, but she can slow up the pace a little bit. She will manoeuvre the ball a little bit. We've seen her hit some nice little angles and slow topspin. She will think a little bit more out on the court, whereas Dell'Acqua just thinks she can hit a winner on every ball."
Daniela serving 2-1: (new balls): Serve out wide + forehand down the line forced Dell'Acqua to stretch wide and net a forehand. 15/0. Daniela dumped a backhand halfway up the net. 15/15. Daniela crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand forced Dell'Acqua to earth a forehand. 30/15. A nice rally from Daniela ended with Dell'Acqua hitting a crosscourt backhand wide. 40/15. A deep backhand from Daniela forced Dell'Acqua to hit an early forehand long.
Dell'Acqua serving 1-3: Daniela on the fourth stroke hit a forehand just long. 15/0. Daniela hit a down-the-line backhand return just wide. 30/0. Double fault (second serve just long). 30/15. Crosscourt backhand return just wide. Daniela wasted a challenge on the serve, which was on the service-line. 40/15. Backhand return very long.
A loose return-game from Daniela there. I believe absolutely that she is beating Dell'Acqua in the mental department, but it could still get complicated...
Daniela serving 3-2: Daniela stranded Dell'Acqua with a crosscourt forehand, and hit an off-forehand winner onto the sideline. 15/0. Dell'Acqua's crosscourt backhand got Daniela out of position and forced a short, weak ball, giving Dell'Acqua a backhand winner down the line. 15/15. Deep first serve down the middle forced Dell'Acqua to bunt a forehand return very long. Dell'Acqua challenged the serve, and Hawk-Eye showed that it caught the outside edge of the service-line by about 1%!! 30/15. Daniela's backhand dropshot forced Dell'Acqua to run and net a one-handed backhand. 40/15. Dell'Acqua forced a short ball, but sprayed a forehand long.
John Lloyd said Dell'Acqua's backhand was the solid side, whereas her forehand was huge but could make a lot of errors.
Dell'Acqua serving 2-4: Dell'Acqua netted a cheap backhand on the third stroke. 0/15. Dell'Acqua opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand, but hit a down-the-line forehand long. 0/30. Deep, body-jamming first serve induced Daniela to net a backhand return. 15/30. Serve out wide forced a short, high-bouncing return: Dell'Acqua crosscourt forehand winner. 30/30. Daniela on the fourth stroke netted a forehand. The umpire told the crowd not to call out during points, after a complaint from Daniela. 40/30. Service-winner out wide.
Daniela ate a bite of banana at the changeover. They must get through a lot of bananas if she starts a new one every time!
Daniela serving 4-3: Daniela on the third stroke hit a forehand long. 0/15. Ace #7: out wide, just inside the sideline. 15/15. Serve out wide + forehand winner down the line. 30/15. Dell'Acqua pushed Daniela back with a deep ball, and hit a backhand dropshot winner. Sam Smith: "Very, very tentative from Hantuchová." 30/30. A deep first serve down the middle forced a very short lob-return from Dell'Acqua; Daniela hit a deep crosscourt forehand that Dell'Acqua had anticipated and actually overran, so she ended up outside the tramlines to bunt back a forehand; Daniela hit a delectable crosscourt backhand drop-volley winner. 40/30. Service-winner out wide: just inside the service-line.
I can sense Daniela's imminent victory, and I hope she can do it in the next game, so that she doesn't have to serve for the match, and also because my stomach is rumbling from lack of breakfast and I need to urinate! ;-)
Dell'Acqua serving 3-5: Dell'Acqua on the third stroke hit a forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Dell'Acqua forehand long. 15/15. Dell'Acqua came to the net, but Daniela hit a perfect running forehand lob-winner! 15/30. Dell'Acqua forced a high-bouncing ball and hit a forehand winner down Daniela's backhand-sideline. 30/30. Dell'Acqua forced a couple more high-bouncing balls from Daniela, finishing the point with a deep crosscourt forehand + off-forehand winner just inside the sideline. 40/30. Daniela's crosscourt backhand back behind Dell'Acqua forced her to bunt back a short, defensive backhand lob, which Daniela dispatched with an easy backhand winner down the line. 40/40. Dell'Acqua on the third stroke hit a deep backhand just inside the baseline, forcing Daniela to bunt a backhand lob wide. Ad Dell'Acqua. Daniela forced a short ball, and hit an off-forehand winner. Deuce #2. A deep forehand return to Dell'Acqua's feet forced her to net a backhand. Ad Daniela (MP #1). Daniela opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand, but sprayed a forehand long. Deuce #3. Forehand return just long. Ad Dell'Acqua. A deep ball from Daniela forced Dell'Acqua to hit a forehand long. Deuce #4. Daniela went for a backhand dropshot + backhand lob-winner combination, but it was long. She wasted a Hawk-Eye challenge: it was embarrassingly long for a challenge! Ad Dell'Acqua. She netted a forehand. Deuce #5. Daniela pushed Dell'Acqua back and forced a short ball, but netted a backhand dropshot. Ad Dell'Acqua. Serve out wide + backhand winner down the line.
The Australian crowd gave Dell'Acqua a loud cheer after that game, and chanted her name during the changeover. This is just what Daniela was hoping to avoid...
Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:36 AEDT): "Daniela Hantuchová lets a match-point slip, and she will now serve for the match at 5-4. That does give me time to tell you that Casey Dell'Acqua's clothing-sponsor is Aussie low-cost department-store Target. A bit like being sponsored by Primark, I guess."
Daniela serving 5-4: Dell'Acqua crosscourt forehand winner just wide. But she challenged it, and Hawk-Eye showed that it caught about 1% of the sideline!! So Dell'Acqua won the point without the need to replay it, much to Daniela's dismay. 0/15. Dell'Acqua forced a short ball and hit an off-forehand winner. John Lloyd said Daniela was playing too much to Dell'Acqua's backhand. 0/30. Second serve: Dell'Acqua hit an off-forehand winner. Sam Smith: "Hantuchová really unsettled by that overrule on the first point." 0/40 (BP #1). Second serve: Dell'Acqua dumped a forehand return into the net. 15/40 (BP #2). Dell'Acqua forehand return just long (looked on the baseline to me). 30/40 (BP #3). First serve out wide + down-the-line backhand forced Dell'Acqua to hit a deep, defensive crosscourt backhand lob; Daniela hit a brilliant short-angled crosscourt forehand onto the sideline to force a floater, which she dispatched with a crosscourt backhand drive-volley winner from no-man's-land. Sam Smith: "That's probably the best point of the match so far!" 40/40. Dell'Acqua hit a wild backhand very long. Daniela said "ˇvamos!" and "podme!". Ad Daniela (MP #2). A woefully short second serve, and Daniela on the third stroke hit a crosscourt forehand long. She looks very nervous and sweaty now. Deuce #2. Dell'Acqua ran down a dropshot comfortably, but hit a backhand long. Ad Daniela (MP #3). First serve into the net. Second serve sat up nicely for Dell'Acqua to hit a deep, body-jamming forehand return down the middle, but Daniela on the back foot responded nicely with a reasonably deep backhand; Dell'Acqua's backhand clipped the netcord and landed midcourt; Daniela steered back a crosscourt forehand, and Dell'Acqua hit a backhand just long. Daniela won 7-6 (13/11) 6-4 at 21:45 AEDT (second set 52m, match 1h59m). She looked pleased with her victory, and threw a ball into the crowd.
Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:46 AEDT): "YES! Casey Dell'Acqua belts one more backhand miles over the baseline, and Daniela Hantuchová is through 7-6 6-4 after nearly two hours of quite atrocious tennis on Rod Laver Arena."
John Lloyd said Daniela would have to make a big improvement to her form if she were to make any impression on these championships. He predicted she would lose to Alizé Cornet in the third round.
Daniela gave an on-court interview, but Sam Smith talked over Daniela's first answer, making it completely inaudible to BBC-viewers, and BBC Red Button cut out without showing the rest of that interview! :fiery:
Daniela had a negative W:UE ratio of 24:41, while Dell'Acqua went for her shots a bit more with a W:UE ratio of 27:48. There were significantly fewer UEs in the second set than the first, without a significant reduction in winners even though the second set was shorter.
Daniela got 56% of her first serves in, winning 62% of the points when she did so, and 53% on second serve. She boosted her winning-percentages from (57%, 43%) for the first set to (71%, 67%) for the second.
Dell'Acqua got 58% of her first serves in, winning 60% of the points when she did so, and - in a significant difference from Daniela - only 41% on second serve. She boosted her first-serve winning-percentage from 48% for the first set to 74% for the second, but only improved her second-serve winning-percentage by 1%.
Daniela served faster than Dell'Acqua in all three categories: fastest 107-103 mph, average first serve 101-94 mph, average second serve 83-81 mph.
Daniela served 7 aces (6 in the first set) and 2 double faults, Dell'Acqua 2 aces and 5 double faults.
Dell'Acqua was unbelievably wasteful of her opportunities as she only converted 3 of 11 BPs, while Daniela converted 4 of 6 BPs. There were three breaks apiece in the first set, while there was just one break in the second set (the first game).
Dell'Acqua won 7 of 14 points at the net, while Daniela was more selective and successful, winning 8 of 10.
In points, Daniela won 90-80 (first set 52-46, second set 38-34). It's ironic that the second set was closer in points than the first set, given that Daniela struggled in the first set but looked in control of the second!
Source: www.australianopen.com
Q. Is that the one that went begging a little?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, I had a lot of opportunities in that match. I didn't consolidate when I had set-points in that first set, and points to go back to five-all in the second.
Yeah, I guess a few opportunities. I didn't consolidate on some of them.
Q. What was the most disappointing to you tonight? Did you feel fluent?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, I felt pretty good out there. Yeah, I guess just disappointing I didn't consolidate on those points. I mean, that can change the match. Obviously if I got that first set, even got back in the second, you just never know.
The match is never over. Yeah, I guess just disappointing that those few points, yeah, I guess I just wasn't able to get one of them. Yeah, could have changed the match. But, anyway.
Q. Did you call the trainer early?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, just for a few painkillers, just for the pain. Just a bit sore. I've played a lot of tennis over the last few weeks. I've loaded it up pretty much. But it's okay. Just a pit of painkillers.
Q. How different was the experience from what you've had previously?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: No, it was good out there. It was fun. The crowd was great. Obviously, I didn't come out with a win tonight, but I love playing out on that court.
It's tough when you play a seed first up. I mean, I wasn't going to be seeded, so it's always tough. You never know the draw you're going to get. Obviously Daniela likes playing here also.
I think I gave myself a pretty good shot. I had the best pretty much preparation I could have had. Didn't go my way tonight. But certainly I've got a lot more tournaments to play this year. I'll get back on the court and keep trying to improve. Yeah, hopefully I'll have wins again soon.
Q. Was the build-up harder to handle or easier this year?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, no, it was okay actually. Yeah, it was pretty good. I felt pretty good leading into the event. I obviously had some great matches in doubles in Sydney. So the week, I was playing a lot up there.
Just came here on Saturday afternoon. Had a good couple [of] days' practice. Was ready to go for tonight. Had a nice relaxing day today. So, yeah, preparation was great.
Q. The shoulder still concerning you?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, I mean, this is routine post-match, I guess. I always ice my shoulder. It's just something I think I'm probably going to have to do for the rest of my career.
Shoulder, it's not a problem at the moment. It's one of those things, yeah, I've been looking after, doing all the right rehab, doing everything I possibly can to be able to play.
Yeah, it gets a little bit sore. Like I say, I've had a lot of matches and loaded it up a bit. It's something, yeah, I'm going to have to really keep an eye on, keep concentrating on making sure I do all the right rehab and icing so that I have longevity in the sport.
Q. In terms of percentages, does it put you off 5%, 10%?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, maybe a little bit. Maybe a fraction. Which I think when you're playing someone like Daniela, you can't afford to have little things.
But I had to deal with it. I had to kind of get over it and just keep playing. I think if any player walks out on the court feeling a hundred percent with probably no niggles, it's probably good.
Just one of those things where it's a little bit niggly. Took a few painkillers. I think that helped. I was able to get through the match.
But, yeah, a few times there I felt a little bit of pain, yeah.
Q. Are you as fit as you could be? Do you feel a good way that way? Has it injured your preparation much?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Well, I mean, I had a fair bit of time off. I finished right after the US Open and didn't play right through till almost the beginning of December. So I had a big chunk of time off.
In saying that, I've hit a lot of tennis-balls. I've had the perfect preparation. I did everything I possibly could to get out there and play tonight as best as I could. That's what I did. I went out there. I came close, but I didn't get up with a win.
I mean, I've done everything I possibly can. Like I said, I'll get on the practice-court again. I've got 25 more tournaments to play for the rest of the year.
Yeah, I've got to get back on the court, keep working hard, and keep improving all the things I need to work on and get ready for tournament and tournament.
Q. So what happens in the future now? What's next? How will you need to manage it?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, obviously the focus for me now will be the doubles here at the Australian Open. I'm playing with Francesca [Schiavone]. That will be my main focus. I've had a lot of good doubles-success last year. I want to try to keep that up.
Then, obviously post-Australian-Open, we have Fed Cup, which is something back in Perth, which is something I know all of us girls are striving to do really well at. Then obviously I set my schedule up. I keep working hard. I've done a lot of hard work in the past and it's always paid off, so that's what I'll be doing.
I'll make sure I'm out there, keep working hard, keep working on the things I need to do, and I'm sure it will pay off eventually.
Q. What was going through your mind when it was tiebreak point after point after point?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yes, I mean, I had a lot of opportunities. I had a lot of set-points. I don't know how many I had in that first set [five]. I had a lot of set-points. When I went up to the line, I mean, I played a good point. Daniela hit a good down-the-line passing-shot, which was tough.
But, yeah, I mean, I just went up to the line when I was serving, and tried to pick targets, and tried to think about what I was going to do that point. She came up with some good shots. I probably made a few errors as well.
So, yeah, it's just one of those things that, yeah, a few points here and there. But, uhm, yeah, it was a shame I didn't consolidate one of those points. I was just trying to be positive, and trying to win just one of them.
Q. The two of you had never met before. How did that have a bearing on how you played tonight?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: No, not too much. I've seen a lot of Daniela play in the past. I had a bit of an idea obviously how she was going to play. I guess I got out there and figured out a few patterns of play she liked.
Yeah, I was just trying to do my best to get my feeling and stay relaxed. But I felt good out there. Like I said, the crowd was great. Unfortunately I couldn't get up tonight. It was a close match.
But, yeah, unfortunately I didn't come off with the win. But I'll be back again next year, obviously, and trying to improve on this year.
Q. Despite the loss, do you feel well-placed to have a better year than last year?
CASEY DELL'ACQUA: Yeah, absolutely. Last year was kind of a stepping-stone for me just in terms of experiencing - I played a full calendar-year on the Tour. Unfortunately I had to finish a little bit early because of the shoulder.
But I played a full calendar-year, and consistently had great results throughout the year. I think 2008 was just a real learning, stepping-stone for me. This year, I feel like I'm a lot more mature and I know what to expect, I guess.
Yeah, I think 2009 is going to be really successful.
Ivanovic marches on (Eurosport/AFP/Reuters)
>>>
<snip other matches>
Daniela Hantuchová knocked out local favourite Casey Dell'Aqua 7-6 6-4 in the evening-match on Rod Laver Arena.
Hantuchová, a semi-finalist here last year, and seeded 19th, was given an incredibly tough fight by the world number 57, with the Australian crowd getting right behind their plucky heroine.
Dell'Acqua even broke the Slovakian's serve in the very first game of the match, and despite losing her own serve three games later, she went toe-to-toe with her opponent throughout an enthralling first set.
Inevitably, that set went to a tiebreak, but again, nothing could seperate the players until Hantuchová finally won 13/11 after a clever dropshot forced her opponent to put the ball out too wide.
It was a body-blow to Dell'Acqua, who then lost her serve in her first service-game of the second set.
But the Aussie got back into things, showing incredible spirit to fight back every time she looked done for - including a phenomenal tussle as she served to stay in the match at 3-5 down - but the rest of the encounter went with serve, and Hantuchová went safely through.
But there was some home-cheer as Australia's Jelena Dokic beat Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4 to reach the second round of the year's first Major for the first time since 1999.
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Hantuchová Survives Tough Dell'Acqua Test
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2898
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If the downside of success at a tournament one year is the need to defend ranking-points the next, the tension that comes with that was all too apparent on Rod Laver Arena during the first night-match of the 2009 Australian Open.
In the end, it would be 2008 semi-finalist Daniela Hantuchová who would hold her nerve better, squeezing past local heroine Casey Dell'Acqua in two nail-biting sets: 7-6(11) 6-4.
Dell'Acqua, who reached the fourth round last year with wins over Patty Schnyder and Amélie Mauresmo, started strongly, breaking Hantuchová for a 2-0 lead. But the Slovak No.19 seed leveled proceedings with solid serving and retrieving, and capitalised on her opponent's errors to move ahead 4-3 with a break of her own.
Dell'Acqua kicked into gear once again, however, making the most of a loose game from Hantuchová to serve for the set at 5-4. Forehand errors helped Hantuchová level at 5-5 - only to relinquish her own serve again on the fourth break-point.
Serving for the set for a second time, Dell'Acqua delivered her first double fault of the match, and sent down another two points later to enable Hantuchová to take the contest to what would become a marathon a tiebreak.
After exchanging mini-breaks, Dell'Acqua surged ahead 5/3, and arrived at her first set-point [sic] at 6/5, but Hantuchová saved that with a backhand winner up the line, and fended off a further four set-points before clinching the opener on her third opportunity.
The Slovak seemed on course for a straightforward passage through the second set, holding on to an early break to establish a 5-3 lead. By now, the 25-year-old was playing a savvy all-court game that blended dropshots and lobs with careful manoeuvering of Dell'Acqua from side to side - with the odd ace thrown in for good measure.
Even so, Dell'Acqua conjured a 0/40 lead when Hantuchová served for the match, but was again let down by her forehand. Hantuchová won through on her third match-point.
"I had a lot of opportunities in that match, and I didn't consolidate on some of them," admitted Dell'Acqua, who converted just 27% of break-points, compared to Hantuchová's 67% success-rate. "You never know the draw you're going to get, but it's tough when you play a seed first up. I love playing out on that court, but obviously Daniela likes playing here also."
"I knew it would be a tough match against an Aussie girl, but it was wonderful to be back out here," said Hantuchová courtside after the match. "I could still feel plenty of support for me and I really appreciated that. In the beginning, I was a bit tired, but I just kept going, and I'm very happy with the win."
Hantuchová plays France's Mathilde Johansson in the second round.
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Local favourite Dell'Acqua bundled out
By Vanessa Skendaris (www.australianopen.com)
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Casey Dell'Acqua's hopes of another dream-run at this year's Australian Open have been ruined after being knocked out of her first-round match by Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia 7-6(11) 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.
The 23-year-old Australian had an impressive start, breaking Hantuchová in the opening game of the first set with a forehand winner.
Hantuchová, the 19th seed, then broke back to level the match 2-2. Both players then broke each other's serve numerous times, which led to a tiebreak.
Hantuchová was the one who prevailed, clinching the tiebreak 13/11 in 67 minutes.
Making her sixth Australian Open appearance, Dell'Acqua lost her serve in the opening game of the second set, and Hantuchová soon took control.
Serving at 3-5 down to stay in the match, Dell'Acqua saved one match-point, and then bounced back in the next game, racing to a 0/40 lead, giving her three break-points.
Hantuchová - an Australian Open 2008 semi-finalist - won the next four points to take her to match-point, which Dell'Acqua saved. A third was beyond her, however, as the Slovakian closed out the match in a tick under two hours.
Hantuchová will now face Mathilde Johansson of France, who defeated American Jill Craybas 6-2 1-6 7-5.
Quick facts:
Pressure does in Dell'Acqua
Martin Blake and Michael Gleeson (Brisbane Times/AAP)
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A year on, Casey Dell'Acqua showed herself to the Australian Open fans with a little darker hair and some sponsored clothing to show for the fact that she captured their hearts for a few days at this time last year.
Back then, Perth's Dell'Acqua was playing with the freedom of the new kid on the block: breezy, calm and talented, and close to lethal off the forehand side. She cut down two seeded players including Amélie Mauresmo, reached the fourth round, and banked a cheque for $85,000 to pay her travel-bills for the rest of the year. Even her grandmother Bev Kirwan-Ward (who wore an Australian flag in her hair beside centre court last night) became an instant celebrity.
In 2009, matters are slightly different. Dell'Acqua is dealing with the millstone of expectation, showing at the Hopman Cup and in Sydney last week that the attention is unwelcome. Her left shoulder aches from the constant training and play, so much so that she had to change her service-action and bed down the alterations. Certain realities have kicked in, as it turned out in her first-round match on Rod Laver Arena last night against the 19th-seeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchová.
The 23-year-old Dell'Acqua lost the two-hour grind 7-6 (13/11) 6-4, and would have lamented lost opportunities, particularly from the marathon first-set tiebreak.
She held five set-points in the opening set, but each time either produced an error, or the battle-hardened Hantuchová peeled off a winner. On her first set-point at 6-5, Dell'Acqua double-faulted. Twice before the tiebreak, she served for the set but was broken.
In the tiebreak, the Australian reached set-point again, but Hantuchová hammered down an ace. They rained blows upon each other until, at 11/11, Dell'Acqua missed a backhand, and then Hantuchová played a dropshot that Dell'Acqua spooned long, giving the Slovakian the tiebreak 13/11. The set had lasted 67 minutes, including a brief interruption when Dell'Acqua called a trainer to talk about her left shoulder, and gobbled down a painkiller.
Having come so close, the Australian faltered in the second, immediately broken. Notoriously fragile herself, Hantuchová this time played the bigger points better. Ranked No.21 in the world, Hantuchová reached the semi-final here, and led 6-2 2-0 but still lost to Ana Ivanovic in her first Major last-four appearance. But the 25-year-old, who lives in Monte Carlo, is a 10-year veteran of the Tour now, and she performed as she should.
She served out the set, momentarily staggering at 5-4 when the Australian had three break-points. At that flashpoint, Hantuchová hit a backhand winner that spoke of her incremental improvement as a player. Really, it seems astonishing that she can be so tender of years after a decade on the Tour. A semi-finalist last year, she will meet France's Mathilde Johansson in the second round.
The 14,443 crowd was partisan but fair, as Hantuchová mentioned later. They could not will the left-handed Dell'Acqua to victory, and her 48 unforced errors were to prove costly, as was her poor conversion of break-points (27% as opposed to Hantuchová's 67%).
Later, she appeared before the media with her shoulder wrapped in ice, although she said she was merely managing the injury. "I've played a lot of tennis over the last few weeks and loaded it up pretty much," she said. "It's okay."
The Australian said she was disappointed to waste opportunities, but happy for the experience. "The crowd was great," she said. "I love playing out on that court."
Dell'Acqua pointed out that she had 25 more tournaments this year in which to reverse her current downward trend.
"Last year was a real stepping-stone for me. This year, I'm a lot more mature, I guess. I know what to expect. I think 2009 is going to be successful for me."
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Daniela Dazzles Down Under
http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.html?id=331
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Under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, Daniela dazzled in the opening evening-match of the Australian Open, defeating Casey Dell'Acqua 7-6 6-4.
Daniela saved set-points in the tiebreak, which had the packed Arena on the edge of their seats. Dressed to impress in a fierce blue Nike-ensemble, Daniela's grace and power was too much for the local Aussie.
Next, Daniela faces France's Mathilde Johansson, who defeated Jill Craybas in the opening round. Check back to DH.com for more from Down Under!
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World #87 Mathilde Johansson went 45:24 in 2008, winning ITF singles-titles at Cali in February, and Petange in July. She got some Major experience by losing 6-2 7-5 to Serena Williams in the second round of the French Open, and 6-7 7-5 6-3 to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round of Wimbledon (after qualifying). But she finished 2008 on a 4-match losing-streak.
Mathilde got a couple of wins in Auckland-qualifying, but nothing Daniela should be too worried about, as her opponents were #180 and unranked. She lost to #144 Aiko Nakamura in the third qualifying-round for Auckland, and to #263 Sophie Ferguson in the first qualifying-round for Sydney. In the first round here, she squeezed past #65 Jill Craybas 6-2 1-6 7-5.
Daniela has never played Johansson before, but should have too much big-time experience - and of course talent - for the world #87.
+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] d. Mathilde Johansson, 6-3 4-6 6-3
This match was second on Show Court 3, and took place during the Australian mid-afternoon, when I sleeping in England. Well, not quite: I was up finishing my first-round reports for other members of my Eternal Fanship before their second-round matches began, and when I finally went to bed at about 14:00 AEDT, I checked the scoreboard and Daniela was up 6-3 3-3.
The statistics indicate that:
The match lasted 2h05m (first set 38m, second set 47m, third set 40m - I'm guessing they took a bathroom-break before the start of the third, as it contained fewer points than the first).
Daniela went for her shots, with a W:UE ratio of 38:38, troughing at 9:17 for the second set, with positive W:UE ratios for the first and third sets.
Johansson's W:UE ratio was only 18:38, and was negative for all three sets - even in the second set, it was 9:17 - the same as Daniela's.
Daniela got 58% of her first serves in, winning 62% of the points when she did so, and 58% on second serve. These percentages troughed at (53%, 56%, 38%) in the second set, but she improved her winning-percentages for (57%, 67%, 89%) in the third.
The corresponding percentages for Johansson were all inferior: 55%, 53% and 46%. The big difference in the second set was that Johansson got 69% of first-serves in (winning 60% when she did so); her first-serves-in percentages were in the 40s for the first and third sets.
Daniela served 3 aces and 5 double faults, Johansson one ace and 5 double faults.
Daniela served faster than Johansson in all three categories: fastest 106-101 mph, average first serve 97-91 mph, average second serve 81-80 mph. I think Johansson's serves were particularly slow by WTA Tour standards.
Daniela broke 6 times (twice in each set) from 8 BPs, which is a very efficient conversion-rate for her. Johansson broke 4 times from 7 BPs (1 of 3 in the first set, 3 of 4 in the second, and she didn't have any BPs in the third).
Daniela won 12 of 16 points at the net; Johansson won 7 of 9.
In points, Daniela won 93-75 (first set 34-22, second set 30-33, third set 29-20).
Hantuchová's love affair continues
By Matthew Trollope (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Daniela Hantuchová loves Melbourne. It is evident in her results at Melbourne Park, and in her reaction to arriving in the city for the year's first Major.
"I couldn't wait to get started at the Australian Open, after having so many great memories from last year," she said. "I'm just very excited to be here, to be playing one match at a time and really having fun."
Last year, the glamorous Slovak won through to the semi-finals - the first time she had progressed that far at a Major. She got past Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwanska before falling to Ana Ivanovic: a match in which she led 6-0 2-0 before succumbing.
She also made the quarter-finals in 2003, the fourth round in 2006 and 2007, and has started the 2009 event strongly, winning her first two matches.
Hantuchová's defeat of local favourite Casey Dell'Acqua was a dramatic opening-night match on Rod Laver Arena that extended to nearly two hours. Both women had several chances to claim the first set in a tiebreak before Hantuchová - the 19th seed - prevailed 13 points to 11. She went on to take the match 7-6(11) 6-4.
She said her 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson in her second-round match was a much more satisfying performance.
"It was a good fight. There were some great points on which I think I played well... I felt like I was really hitting my shots and going for more, and I felt like I was moving better - just overall I was less nervous [than against Dell'Acqua]," she said.
In many ways, Hantuchová's career-results – three titles and one Major semi-final showing – are a loose translation of her talent.
After bursting onto the tennis-scene in 2002 by defeating Martina Hingis in the final at Indian Wells and rising to world No.5 in early 2003, Hantuchová went into a tailspin. She lost form and confidence, languishing outside the top 50 by mid-2004.
To her credit, she was able to work her way back up the rankings-ladder before putting in a brilliant performance in 2007, winning Indian Wells again to effectively see her career come full circle. That year, she also won her third career title in Linz, and qualified for the Tour Championships.
The Slovak said she is accustomed to the nerves that come with playing on the professional circuit. "It's natural; I think if you weren't [nervous], it wouldn't be normal. It shows that I care," she said.
"But it's [also] about how you're able to manage it, and I think I handled it pretty well today [against Johansson]... in the first few rounds of a Grand Slam [sic], it's always tough."
If there was ever a time that nerves could affect her, it should be here at Melbourne Park. After making the semi-finals last year, Hantuchová stands to lose a large bundle of points if she does not replicate that performance in 2009. However, she said she did not view the situation in that way. "It's actually the opposite; I feel very honoured to be able to be in this position," she said.
It is a situation she would like to find herself in more often if she is to rebuild her ranking following an injury-plagued 2008, during which slipped to world No.21. Hantuchová said she has worked hard on her fitness during the off-season, and aims to qualify again for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships in 2009.
Should things not go her way on the tennis-court, Hantuchová has many interests to keep her occupied off it. She is an accomplished classical pianist, speaks four languages, and loves rollerblading, jet-skiing, swimming and cooking.
But she is yet to indulge in these interests so far in Melbourne this year, preferring instead to concentrate solely on her tennis. "I try to save my energy for my matches, and I try to stay focused," she said. "On my days off, I practise in the morning and have a massage, and just kind of relax."
<<<
As expected, Daniela's third-round opponent is Alizé Cornet [15], who turned 19 on Thursday 22nd January.
Daniela beat Cornet 6-4 6-1 in the first round of the Australian Open 2007, and 6-2 7-5 in the second round of the Australian Open 2008, so can she continue this pattern against Cornet in the third round of the Australian Open 2009?
Cornet's impressive 2008, which included a 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over Daniela at New Haven (they are now 2:1 head to head), suggests otherwise, although Daniela does have the advantage - and Cornet the disadvantage - that the Australian Open is played on Plexicushion rather than clay!
Cornet went 37:24 in 2008, and improved from being a good junior with a counterpunching style to a top-16 player who can compete with the world's best, although she's not yet ready to beat them all.
Cornet excelled on clay in 2008, reaching the final of Acapulco, semi-finals of Amelia Island, and semi-finals of Charleston with a 7-5 6-4 win over #13 Ágnes Szávay. She had an amazing run to the Rome-final as a qualifier, beating world #20 Francesca Schiavone 6-3 6-2, #5 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-4, and #8 Anna Chakvetadze 3-6 6-4 6-3, before losing 6-2 6-2 to Jelena Jankovic. She won her first WTA singles-title at Budapest - albeit without facing anyone in the top 106.
Cornet also showed some form on hard courts, beating #20/21 Nicole Vaidišová in the first rounds of both the Olympics and New Haven. I saw Cornet play Serena Williams in the third round of the Olympics, and was impressed with her newfound aggression as lost 3-6 6-3 6-4. And she beat Daniela - then #12 - to reach the semi-finals of New Haven.
Cornet suffered a 4-match losing-streak in late 2008, before reaching the quarter-finals of Linz and losing 7-5 6-1 to #9 Vera Zvonarëva.
Cornet went 2:1 in singles-matches at the Hopman Cup, losing 6-3 6-2 to world #3 Dinara Safina, but beating Flavia Pennetta and Hsieh,Su-Wei. At Sydney, she beat #11 Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-4 and Alisa Kleyanova to reach the quarter-finals, but lost 6-3 6-4 to Safina. She has reached the third round here by beating Mariya Koryttseva 6-3 6-4 and Andrea Petkovic 6-1 6-0.
Daniela has a chance of beating Cornet, but it's probably 40% at best. She's going to have to play a darn sight better than she did in the first two rounds!
Australian Open: Day 5 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2909
>>>
Hisense Arena
(15) Alizé Cornet (FRA) vs. (19) Daniela Hantuchová (SVK) - Hantuchová leads 2:1
Player head-to-heads often acquire interesting patterns; this is the third year in a row these two have faced off at the Australian Open - and in a later round each time. In 2007, Hantuchová was a handy first-round winner over a Cornet ranked No.192 in the world; last year in the second round, she beat the French teen - then at No.59 - in two closer sets.
But Cornet is a very different proposition in 2009: she won their most recent encounter at New Haven in three, and with a ranking of No.14, has to be considered the favourite today.
That said, Hantuchová - under enormous pressure to defend points from her rousing run to the semis last year - must be pleased with the gutsy wins that have seen her justify her seeding this week. But the 25-year-old won't be content with that - not when she knows she has the talent to get back to the top ten. A win today would do her self-belief the world of good, and the fact she's now the underdog might just help.
<<<
2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Round 3
Nick Bollettieri <nickstennispicks.com>
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Alizé Cornet (FRA) vs. Daniela Hantuchová (SVK): Cornet is the French hope for the next wave of top players. She is really talented, but has yet to get past the third round of a Major. Hantuchová has it all. She moves well, can volley, has extremely sound groundstrokes, and can serve. She has got to end the points quickly, because getting into long rallies in this heat will not benefit her.
<<<
2009 Australian Open: Day Five Preview
Aaress Lawless (www.onthebaseline.com)
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Daniela Hantuchová (SVK)[19] v. Alizé Cornet (FRA)[15]
Alizé Cornet has overtaken Marion Bartoli for the No.1 ranking in France, and is quickly becoming that nation's biggest hope for the future. She reached the quarter-finals in Sydney last week, and heads into this match with the knowledge that she beat Hantuchová in three sets during the past summer in New Haven.
Hantuchová spent a considerable portion of 2008 on the injured-list because of a stress-fracture in her right heel. Her results since returning have been mediocre, and the two-time Indian Wells champion ended the season ranked outside the top 20.
Pick: Alizé Cornet in three sets.
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Nerve Centre: Hantuchová v. Cornet (Abigail Lorge, TENNIS.com)
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Perennial Australian Open foils Daniela Hantuchová and Alizé Cornet met in the first round of this tournament in 2007 and in the second round in 2008, with Hantuchová winning both matches in straight sets. The 2009 edition of their showdown Down Under - a third-round contest slated for Friday - is compelling not only because it should be very competitive, but also because it features two women who are - as I found out this afternoon - markedly different in comportment and disposition.
Hantuchová - the 25-year-old Slovakian stunner - was unwilling to entertain questions about her history of folding in big matches. She lost to Ana Ivanovic in the semi-finals of last year's Australian Open after leading 6-0 2-0 - a notoriously epic collapse. But Hantuchová insisted that the experience – her career-best finish at a Major – was a positive one for her.
"I think that was a great thing," Hantuchová said, rejecting the suggestion that the memories of Oz '08 might be less than fond. "It showed me that if I play my tennis, I can [finish] where I want. I was very pleased making the semi-finals. So actually that was a great match for me, to show me how close I am."
The former top-five player, who in past years has appeared alarmingly thin, looks fit and healthy here. Hantuchová said on Wednesday that she worked hard on improving her strength and power in the off-season, emphasising weightlifting instead of running during her training-sessions in Orlando.
But it remains to be seen whether Hantuchová's psyche has been fortified along with her physique. She was eager to assume the identity of the underdog for her third-round match on Friday, when she'll be facing the slightly higher-seeded Cornet.
"This time, she is the favourite, so it's nice to be in this position where I have no pressure," Hantuchová said. "Tennis is as much physical as mental, and I think the mental part is actually more important, but the most important thing is to always keep fighting and stay positive, even though sometimes things don't go your way."
With a reputation for mental fragility in the big moments, Hantuchová is somewhat accustomed to matches not going her way; many tennis-observers consider her career to be a case of unfulfilled potential. But she began working with a new coach - Albert Portas - in November, and has a lofty goal for 2009: qualify for the year-end championships.
The immediate task at hand, however, is her match with a French teenager who has, as Hantuchová acknowledged, improved dramatically over the past year. Hantuchová and Cornet both live on the Côte D'Azur (Cornet is a Nice-native; Hantuchová resides in Monte Carlo), but that is where their similarities end. Energized by her 6-1 6-0 drubbing of Germany's Andrea Petkovic, Cornet was as giddy and affable on Wednesday as Hantuchová was curt and guarded.
"If I'm playing like that, I can go really far in the tournament," effused Cornet, who will celebrate her 19th birthday on Thursday. Mademoiselle then proceeded to gush about everything and everyone in her life, including Roland Garros ("it's my heart; I love to play on the clay"); Amélie Mauresmo ("she's a really nice girl; she's really funny"); her family ("I really love to be with them"), her coach of 10 years: Pierre Bouteyre ("he's like my second father or my second brother"); her pals on tour: Caroline Wozniacki and the Radwanska sisters ("we grew up together, so it's fun"); her hometown ("it's a beautiful city"); and even the family pooch: Andy: named for her favourite player on the men's tour.
The loquacious Cornet exuded a much more positive energy than Hantuchová: she of the long legs and short answers. But more telling is the difference in their approach to Friday's match: Hantuchová wants to minimise expectations, while Cornet relishes the opportunity to make the fourth round of a Major.
"I'm young, but everybody has something to lose, because when you're on the court, you just want to win," said the birthday-girl. "I already lost to her last year and two years ago in the same tournament, so I don't want to lose to her a third time."
I know Hantuchová is enormously talented and fiercely focused. And I concede that Cornet's sore shoulder, which has been bothering her for two months and worsened during the Hopman Cup, is a worry. But I pick Cornet to prevail over last year's semi-finalist. Given the Frenchwoman's higher seeding, it's not a nervy pick. But after what I heard today, I wouldn't bet against her in a battle of nerves.
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- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] lt. ALIZÉ CORNET [15], 6-4 4-6 2-6
The match was second on Hisense Arena, so it would have been played in the Australian mid-afternoon, while I was sleeping in England.
Nick Bollettieri questioned Daniela's ability to generate power and hurt her opponents. My response is that she can do this: she does it through immaculate timing - what I call "flairsome power" - rather than big muscles. She was certainly generating a lot of power when she reached the semi-finals of last year's Australian Open!
But Daniela has not been the same force since she was sidelined for ten weeks with a stress-fracture in her right heel from April to June 2008. She lost a lot of fitness then, so her first priority is to get that back - then she can concentrate on getting her game back on track.
The statistics imply that Daniela got tired in the third set: obviously the score, and also Cornet's raised winner-count and ace-count.
The match lasted 2h02m (first set 34m, second set 43m, third set 45m - presumably there was a long break after the second set).
Daniela had a negative W:UE ratio of 30:40 (her winner-count decreased from set to set), Cornet a positive 29:22 (including 12:6 for the third set).
Daniela got 61% of her first serves in, winning 65% of the points when she did so, and 42% on second serve. Her second-serve winning-percentage dipped from 64% in the first set to 33% for the second and 27% for the third, while her first-serve winning-percentage dipped from 68% for the second set to 53% for the third.
The corresponding percentages for Cornet were 52%, 76% and 43%, so it's disappointing that Daniela let her get away with so many second serves.
Cornet had the fastest serve - 109mph to Daniela's 105mph - but Daniela's serves were faster on average: first serve 101-100 mph, second serve 80-77 mph.
Daniela served 2 aces and 3 double faults, Cornet 6 aces (4 in the third set) and 5 double faults.
There was a big difference in their BP-conversion rates: Cornet broke 6 times from 7 BPs, while Daniela broke just 4 times from 9 BPs (squandering BPs has long been an unfortunate habit of Daniela's). The first two sets were each won by two breaks to one, the third set by three breaks to one.
Daniela won just 11 of 21 points at the net (52%) - including 3 of 9 in the third set - which is disappointing for an all-court player such as herself. Cornet was more selective and successful with her net-approaches, winning 8 of 11 (73%).
In points, Cornet won 87-79 (first set 24-30, second set 33-29, third set 30-20).
Second Serve: Cornet Redux (Abigail Lorge, TENNIS.com)
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Alizé Cornet and Daniela Hantuchová's third-round showdown in Hisense Arena was one of the few quality women's matches of the day. The Frenchwoman (No.15) was seeded slightly higher than the Slovak (No.19), but Hantuchová is a former top-ten player who was a semi-finalist here last year. Adding to the intrigue was the fact that Hantuchová, 25, had ousted the French teenager from this tournament each of the past two years.
Determined not to lose for a third straight time, Cornet prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-2 on Friday in a convincing effort that put her into the round of 16 at a Major for the first time in her career. She struggled with nerves in the first set – "this match was just so important to me, and that's why I was more nervous than usual," she said afterwards, a bag of ice on her sore right shoulder – but then decided to get more aggressive, and raised her level significantly.
Cornet did show some nerves in both the second and third sets as well. She served for the second set at 5-2, but started rushing and was broken (eventually evening the match at one-set all when she held at 5-4). At that point, the momentum was clearly in Cornet's favour.
"I knew that if I won the second set, I was really ready physically to beat her in the third set, so I was pretty confident," the elated Frenchwoman said afterwards. Indeed, she ran up a 4-0 lead on Hantuchová to start the deciding set, and the outcome was all but decided. It wasn't one of the worst choke-jobs in Hantuchová's career – Cornet played legitimately well – but it did little to refute her reputation for folding easily.
One other note: During the Hantuchová v Cornet match, I sat next to Michel Dechy: the father of unseeded French player Natalie Dechy, who lost to Ai Sugiyama in the second round here. Like an MLB scout charting the performance of a pitching prospect, Mr. Dechy was taking detailed notes on each point: he had a sophisticated system for indicating how each point was won (forehand return, bad but lucky volley, etc.). Dechy has been travelling with his daughter for the past year and coached her when she was younger, and said his grids help her prepare for future matches. I was impressed by his meticulousness.
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^I would be fascinated to see Michel Dechy's detailed notes, as I make such notes myself when I get to watch important matches!
Out Down Under
http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.html?id=333
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Daniela was unable to pull out the third set on Friday at the Australian Open, falling to the fifteenth seed Alizé Cornet 6-4 4-6 2-6.
It was an action-packed match on Hisense Arena, but Daniela couldn't fend off the Frenchwoman, who took the break early in the third.
Daniela did a good job of mixing up her shots and moving Cornet around the court, but Cornet's determination was relentless.
It was a disappointing loss for Daniela, who was looking to match or surpass her semi-final showing Down Under in 2008.
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AO Doubles Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2899
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Other seeds of note include Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama at No.9; Sugiyama's regular partner of 2008, Katarina Srebotnik, is out with injury, but of course the popular 'Hantuyama' unit isn't short on history or prospects.
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(DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[9]: 1r + Isabella Holland/Sally Peers, 6-1 6-1 2r + Vera Dushevina/Olga Savchuk, 6-4 6-1 3r + Elena Vesnina/Ágnes Szávay, 6-1 6-2
+ (DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[9] d. (CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER)[1], 6-7 (0/7) 6-3 7-6 (12/10)
I followed live scores casually before going to bed at the end of the first set. Hantuyama led *3-0, were broken back once but held for 4-2*, were broken back again, had to serve to stay in the set at *4-5, but served for it at *6-5 before finally losing out on a tiebreak.
I thought Black/Huber - the dominant doubles-team in 2008 - would cruise through the second set, but Hantuyama won it 6-3, and recovered from *2-5 down in the third to win on a final-set tiebreak in which they saved seven match-points including 2/6!
Daniela and Ai Defeat Cara and Liezel in Thriller
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2930
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Three seeded teams are through to the doubles semi-finals of the 2009 Australian Open, but none of them began the tournament among the top eight favourites - at least not on paper. So Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama are to play Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo for a place in the final, while Venus and Serena Williams take on Casey Dell'Acqua and Francesca Schiavone.
Most striking was the three-hour defeat of top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber by the reunited No.9 seeds Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama: 6-7(0) 6-3 7-6(10). Black and Huber - who also won early in Brisbane and Sydney - won the first-set tiebreak without dropping a point, and although the underdogs regrouped to level in the second set, the co-world No.1s seemed ready to seize the contest as they surged to 5-2 lead in the decider.
But the popular 'Hantuyama' unit clicked into gear, as the tall Slovak set up volleying-opportunities for the Japanese veteran. With Black becoming vulnerable on serve and at the net, the tenth seeds forced a tiebreak. However, Black and Huber stole back the momentum to hold four match-points at 6/2, but they lost them all, plus another three, as Hantuchová and Sugiyama went on to win the final tiebreak [12/10].
<snip other quarter-finals>
They may carry lowly seedings at the first Major of the year, but all four semi-finalists boast strong doubles-pedigrees. Sugiyama owns 37 Tour doubles-titles: three of them with Hantuchová, who has eight; their best Major result together was finishing runner-up at Roland Garros in 2006.
<snip other semi-finalists>
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Hantuchová and Sugiyama upset Black and Huber in major thriller
(Diane Elayne Dees, womenwhoserve.blogspot.com)
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Top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber have been upset in the Australian Open quarter-finals by Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama: 6-7 6-3 7-6.
The three-hour ordeal was an absolute thriller, with Black and Huber finally dominating the first set with a 7/0 tiebreak-score, Hantuchová and Sugiyama getting themselves together in the second, and back-to-back thrills occurring in the third.
Of course, that third set didn't look too thrilling for a while, although there were some very entertaining rallies. Hantuchová and Sugiyama were down 2-5, and it just looked like a matter of moments before Black and Huber won the match.
But suddenly, Hantuchová and Sugiyama began to play completely in sync with one another, with Hantuchová setting up superb volleys for Sugiyama. About this time, Black became somewhat vulnerable, too, which gave her opponents some room to hit shots between her and Huber.
Hantuchová and Sugiyama brought the match to a tiebreak, but then went down 2/6 in that. Again, the match appeared to be over, and again, Hantuchová and Sugiyama refused to go out. They won the tiebreak 12/10, and saved a total of seven match-points.
The crowd-response was tremendous throughout, as the reunited team of Hantuchová and Sugiyama played one the best matches of their careers.
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+ (DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[9] d. Nathalie Dechy/Mara Santangelo, 6-4 6-3
I checked the scoreboard once before I went to bed: Hantuyama led 6-4 2-0*.
Williams-Sisters to Play 'Hantuyama' For Australian Doubles-Title
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2938
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They might only be the No.9 and No.10 doubles seeds at the 2009 Australian Open, but a formidable foursome will contest the title at Melbourne Park on Friday, as Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama take on Venus and Serena Williams. Due to extreme temperatures, their respective semi-final matches had to be moved 'indoors' on the Hisense Arena but, auguring well for the final, both teams still showed blistering form.
Ninth seeds Hantuchová and Sugiyama - quarter-final conquerors of top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber - were first to book their place in the championship-match with a comfortable 6-4 6-3 win over French/Italian duo Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo.
The foundation for the win was laid early in each set with the break of Dechy's serve, which 'Hantuyama' built upon with seemingly effortless verve, the tall Slovak providing countless savvy set-ups for the dynamic Japanese veteran to execute at the net.
Indeed, when Hantuchová struck a backhand pass down the line to give her team a 3-0 lead in the second, it seemed they would record an even easier win. But Dechy and Santangelo mustered forces to break Sugiyama twice in the remainder of the set; on the downside, they were on the wrong end of most of the quick-fire exchanges at the net; more damagingly, Dechy relinquished another two service-games, handing Hantuchová three match-points on a double fault.
Supreme communication also kept the Williams-sisters on their winning ways as they dispatched Casey Dell'Acqua and Francesca Schiavone, who were surprise finalists at Roland Garros last year, but have played only sporadically since. Although Serena seemed remarkably fresh after her semi-final defeat of Elena Dementieva, the American No.10 seeds clearly didn't want to waste an ounce of energy on court, overpowering their opponents to keep the rallies short for a 6-0 6-2 win.
Playing together again after a couple of years' break, Hantuchová and Sugiyama will be gunning for their fourth title together, but first since Rome in 2006 - the year they achieved their best Major result as a unit, finishing runners-up to Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur at Roland Garros.
Now 33, Sugiyama was actually ranked No.1 in doubles in 2000: the year she won the US Open with Julie Halard-Decugis (she also won the French Open and Wimbledon with Kim Clijsters in 2003).
For her part, Hantuchová has been as high as No.5 in doubles, and belongs to an élite group that owns a Career Grand Slam in Mixed Doubles. But although the 25-year-old also reached the final of the Australian Open with Aranxta Sánchez-Vicario in 2002, she is yet to capture a Women's Doubles Major.
Venus and Serena might not play doubles very often, but when they do, it is almost invariably with spectacular results. Together they have collected seven Majors, including the Australian Open in 2001 and 2003, and most recently Wimbledon, as well as two Olympic Gold Medals. To reach the final this week, they've disposed of No.5 seeds Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, and No.16 seeds Hsieh,Su-Wei and Peng,Shuai.
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Women's doubles finalists decided
By Katy Ghassemi (www.australianopen.com)
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The Women's Doubles semi-finals of the Australian Open 2009 were played on Thursday, with Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama first to book their place in Friday's final.
An in-form Hantuchová and Sugiyama - who've won three doubles-titles together - were in control throughout the match, winning comfortably against the French/Italian pair of Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo: 6-4 6-3.
Sugiyama's quick hands at the net helped the No.9 seeds secure a break in the first game of the match. It was a sign of things to come, with both Hantuchová and Sugiyama showing their dominance at the net. Dechy and Santangelo's miscommunication also helped Hantuchová and Sugiyama, with the French/Italian pair chasing down the same ball on more than one occasion, with predictable results.
Having lost her serve early in the set, Hantuchová made up for it by serving an ace to secure the first set for herself and Sugiyama.
The second set was a similar affair, with the No.9 seeds gaining a 5-1 lead before Dechy and Santangelo made a late comeback to win two games. They'd left their run too late, however, and Hantuchová and Sugiyama clinched the match by winning the final game to love.
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- (DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[9] lt. (SERENA WILLIAMS/VENUS WILLIAMS)[10], 3-6 3-6
Well, they did very well to get to the final, with that amazing comeback-win against Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the quarter-finals!
It was Daniela's third Major Women's Doubles final (following the Australian Open 2002 and French Open 2006), but she has yet to win a Major in Women's Doubles despite having won a Career Grand Slam in Mixed Doubles.
For the Williams-sisters, it was their eighth Major Women's Doubles title together.
The match was first on Rod Laver Arena at 15:00 AEDT, which is 04:00 GMT in England, so I hope you'll forgive me for not staying up to follow live scores. ;-)
The match lasted 1h16m, with each set lasting 38 minutes.
The statistics don't mention any aces or winners, just 20 unforced errors and 3 double faults for the Williams-sisters (the double faults all coming in the second set), and 19 unforced errors and 0 double faults for Hantuyama. Each team made 8 UEs in the first set; in the second set, the Williams-sisters made 12 UEs while Hantuyama made 11 UEs.
The Williams-sisters got 54% of their first serves in, winning 71% of the points when they did so, and only 42% on second serve. It seems they went for even bigger first serves in the second set, as their first-serves-in percentage dipped from 64% to 42%, while their first-serve winning-percentage climbed from 67% to 80%, but their second-serve winning percentage declined from 60% to 29%.
Hantuyama got 80% of their first serves in, but won only 46% of the points when they did so, and 33% on second serve. From the first set to the second, they raised their first-serves-in percentage from 73% to 86%, but their first-serve winning-percentage dipped from 50% to 42%, while their second-serve winning-percentage crashed from 42% to 0%.
The Williams-sisters had huge first serves compared to Hantuyama: fastest 121-103 mph, average first serve 107-95 mph. At least Hantuyama's average second serve was faster than the Williams-sisters': 82-79 mph.
Hantuyama had almost as many break-points as the Williams-sisters, but only broke 3 times from 7 BPs, while the Williams-sisters broke 6 times from 8 BPs. The Williams-sisters won the first set by two breaks to one, and the second set - which had more BPs for both teams - by four breaks to two.
In points, the Williams-sisters won 64-48 (first set 33-25, second set 31-23).
Venus & Serena win doubles-title [CEEFAX 490->493]
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Venus and Serena Williams won their eighth Major doubles-title with victory at the Australian Open.
The sisters brushed aside Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 to claim the trophy for the third time in Melbourne.
"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," said 28-year-old Venus. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."
Serena, 27, targets her tenth Major singles-title on Saturday.
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Williams-sisters earn doubles-title [Teletext 495->498]
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Title for Williams-girls [Teletext 498]
Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major Women's Doubles title with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama.
The 76-minute triumph in the searing heat at Melbourne was the sisters' third title in Australia, and makes them the third-most successful partnership in the Open Era.
Younger sister Serena also faces Dinara Safina in Saturday's singles-final.
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Triple treat: Williams-sisters take doubles-crown
By Helen Gilbert (www.australianopen.com)
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Venus and Serena Williams have stormed past Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama to lift the Australian Open Women's doubles-crown for the third time in their career.
The American sisters produced a devastating display to dispose of the ninth-seeded pair 6-3 6-3 to earn their eighth Major doubles-title together, and said the victory was as sweet as their other seven.
"They're all so wonderful." Venus said after the match. "I think we complement each other on the court because we're both extremely positive. We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it. I think that we're so good at putting the ball away - I think it helps us so much."
At first, the Slovak/Japanese duo appeared to have the upper hand in the encounter, played beneath the Rod Laver Arena roof as the mercury reached 43°C outside.
The good friends and partners, making their second Major-final appearance as a team since Roland Garros in 2006, looked relaxed and jovial as they strolled on court and subsequently eased into the match, breaking Venus in the opening game.
The fast-paced tone was set immediately as Serena and Hantuchová became drawn in fierce forehand-rallies. But Serena and Venus were undeterred, whispering tactics to each other beneath closed fingertips in trademark fashion. The mood of the match soon changed when the American sisters produced several pieces of astonishing net-play.
Venus - clad in a sunshine-yellow dress - was particularly impressive at 4-3 when she dashed across the net like a flash of lightning to hit a perfect forehand volley into an open court and earn a break-point. A Hantuchová backhand-miss gave the sisters a double break, and spectacular serving by Venus saw the 10th seeds claim the first set.
Speaking of Venus after the match, Serena said: "She's covering the whole net. At one point today, I literally stood back and she took care of everything, so yeah, I just wouldn't want to face them [Venus's shots] too much. They are ferocious."
Come the second set, each player had trouble holding their serve. At 1-1, Sugiyama's was the first to go. Serena, Hantuchová and Venus followed suit, and then Sugiyama got broken again.
It was the younger Williams that became the first to hold, and that proved to be the deciding factor. Punishing tennis on Hantuchová's serve then followed as the sisters asserted their authority at the net to claim their eighth Major doubles-title.
While the sisters produced flawless tennis today, they admitted their doubles-game needed a bit of help in the early days.
"I think when we first started playing, we thought we knew each other so well we didn't have to talk between points. Someone told us - maybe Zina [Garrison] - that we needed to talk between points," Venus smiled.
"We never told each other where we were going to serve or anything," Serena adds.
"We just figured we're so close that we don't need to do that. I think that's pretty clueless," Venus laughed.
However, there is no question about their doubles-game now. The victory means that the sisters are now tied for the third-most successful partnership in the Open Era in terms of Major doubles-titles. The most successful was Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver, who scooped 21 Major titles, followed by Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva (14), and Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez (8).
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Williams-Sisters Win Third Australian Open
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2941
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For the second year in a row, a sister-act has won the Australian Open Women's Doubles title, with Venus and Serena Williams producing another powerful display to defeat Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama in Friday's final: 6-3 6-3. The win represents the sisters' eighth Major title overall and their third triumph at Melbourne Park; this year's No.10 seeds also lifted the trophy in 2001 and 2003.
Cool, calm and collected under the closed roof of the Rod Laver Arena, ninth-seeded Hantuchová and Sugiyama made the better start, their tactic of both standing back on Venus's serve drawing errors from the incoming volleyer. But after Hantuchová produced some fine angles to consolidate her team's early break at 2-0, the Williamses stepped things up a gear, breaking Sugiyama with clever crossover play to level at 2-2.
The Japanese veteran's serve was again put under pressure by heavy returning at 3-4, and the 33-year-old was broken to give the Americans a chance to serve for the set. That done, they again broke Sugiyama for 2-1 in the second, but it would prove to be the first of five consecutive service-breaks, which kept proceedings level until 3-3, but also saw Sugiyama lose her serve yet again for 3-4. Two games later, Hantuchová was left to keep her team in the match, but by this time, the hard-fought contest had acquired an air of inevitability, and the sisters gave away just one point in the final game.
"We played a great team today: they were very tough," said Venus, adding with a chuckle, "I'd like to thank for Serena for being the best partner - I wouldn't play with anyone else."
Speaking for her team, Hantuchová congratulated the champions and thanked her own partner, Sugiyama, with whom she was also runner-up at Roland Garros in 2006. "It's a big honour for me to play with someone like you," the 25-year-old Slovak said. "You're not only a fantastic player, but one of my best friends."
Indeed, with their complementary styles and communication-skills, Hantuchová and Sugiyama - who were a regular fixture on the Tour from 2005 until early 2007 - reunited seamlessly during this month's Australian swing. Notably, they beat world No.1s Cara Black and Liezel Huber twice: in the quarters at Brisbane, and again in a three-hour epic at the same stage in Melbourne, saving seven match-points in the process.
If last year's Australian Open title-run by Alyona and Kateryna Bondarenko was a surprise, this year's event produced even more shocks, for none of the top eight seeds reached the quarters. The Williams-sisters opened their section of the draw by defeating fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs in the third round. Ominously, they say they plan to start playing together more often, too: "If we keep playing, I think we can keep winning more titles," said Venus. "We're going to do our best to play the other Slams [sic] this year."
After today's final, Sugiyama is projected to rise to No.3 in the doubles-rankings, while Hantuchová and both Williams-sisters are expected to enter the top twenty.
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Williams-sisters win Aussie Women's Doubles title
Neil Frankland: AP Sports Writer
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Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major Women's Doubles title on Friday, beating Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 in the Australian Open final.
The Williams-sisters, seeded 10th, were untroubled as they served out the first set in just 38 minutes under a closed roof on centre court.
The temperature topped 113°F in the late afternoon, and the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament's Extreme-Heat Policy was put in effect.
The second set proved more difficult as the pairs exchanged breaks six times in nine games before the Williams' powerful returns and superior movement around the court proved the deciding factor.
"We played a great team today. They were very tough," Venus said. "At the end there, I think we just maybe wanted it a little more."
Serena Williams, who returns to centre court on Saturday for the singles-final, dominated at the net as they broke Sugiyama's serve to take a 4-3 lead, then sealed the championship by breaking Hantuchová.
"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both extremely positive," Venus said. "We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it."
The sisters, who won the Doubles Gold Medal at last year's Beijing Olympics, held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging each other on court.
"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus Williams, 28, said. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."
The Williams-sisters now have three Australian Open doubles-titles, having previously won here in 2001 and 2003. Serena won the singles-title in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
They have won doubles-titles at all four Majors - a milestone that Sugiyama was hoping to achieve by winning here with Hantuchová.
Serena, 27, who has a chance to win her tenth singles Major title when she takes on Dinara Safina on Saturday, looked relaxed during and after the match.
The sisters laughed and chatted between sets, and made an unhurried exit from Rod Laver Arena after the trophy-presentations.
"I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves," Serena said. "Venus hits some big serves; we put the ball away.
"For me, it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go for the win in both events."
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Williams-sisters hungry for more after Open doubles-win (AFP)
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Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major doubles-title when they beat Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchová at the Australian Open on Friday, and said they were hungry for more.
The sisters claimed their third Australian Open doubles-trophy after overpowering their opponents 6-3 6-3 in just 75 minutes.
The Williams, who also won here in 2001 and 2003, kept intact their record of never having lost a doubles-final at a Major.
They are now tied with Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez as the third-most successful Major women's team in the Open Era, behind Martina Navrátilova/Pam Shriver with 21 Major titles, and Gigi Fernández/Natasha Zvereva (14).
"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both extremely positive," Venus said.
"We know when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it."
Serena, who plays Dinara Safina for the singles-title on Saturday, added that there was no reason why they couldn't add to their tally, and said they would try to play together at the year's other three Majors.
"If we keep playing, I think we can just keep getting titles," she said.
"We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight years.
"If we would have played during that time, we probably would have gotten even more."
The sisters were too powerful in every department for Japan's Sugiyama and Slovakia's Hantuchová, who were on the back foot from the moment Sugiyama lost her second service-game.
The Japanese player was under enormous pressure throughout the match, and failed to hold her serve at all in the second set.
The two teams traded early service-breaks in the first set - from Venus and Hantuchová - and then games went on serve until 4-3, when Sugiyama was broken for the first time.
Venus served out the next game to wrap up the first set and put the sisters firmly in control.
There was a run of five consecutive service-breaks at the start of the second set, but the Williams-sisters always looked more dangerous.
At 3-4 down, Sugiyama was broken again, and this time Serena served out the set to love to claim the title.
"We played a great team today," Venus said.
"They were very tough. At the end there, I think we just maybe wanted it a little more."
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Williams-sisters win third Australian Open doubles-title (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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Serena Williams achieved the first part of a 2009 Australian Open Major double when she teamed up with older sister Venus to win their third Women's Doubles title at Melbourne Park on Friday.
Serena is to play the singles-final against Russia's Dinara Safina on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.
The 10th seeds, who also won the title at Melbourne Park in 2001 and 2003, beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-3 6-3 to claim their eighth Major doubles-title.
They are now tied for third on the all-time list for Major doubles-titles - behind the pairings of Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver (21), and Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva (14).
Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez also won eight titles, but Venus said she and her sibling would have won more if they had played more doubles.
"We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight years," Venus told reporters.
"If we would have played during that time, we probably would have gotten even more.
"Obviously, we have to play well [on Friday]. We played a great team today. They were very tough."
With the air-temperature over 40°C for the third successive day, organisers again closed the roof on Rod Laver Arena, and the American duo hardly looked flustered, winning the first set in 38 minutes.
They continuously attacked the serve of the Slovak and Japanese, breaking on six of the eight opportunities they had, though they did not have it all their own way with their own service, being broken three times.
However, their superior groundstroke-power and court-coverage proved to be the difference, and they hugged each other when Sugiyama's backhand volley dropped into the net.
"Sometimes we stay at the baseline because we have such great groundstrokes," said Serena. "We lose sight that we need to come in. Once we come in, I think it's even more dangerous.
"I have a great partner. I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves.
"Venus hits some big serves. We put the ball away."
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Williams-sisters win Australian Open doubles-title (AP)
By Paul Alexander: Associated Press Writer
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Serena Williams was happy to have sister Venus on her side of the net on Friday so that she didn't have to try to fend off those wicked volleys.
Their doubles title — their third at the Australian Open and eighth Major title as a combination — came at the expense of Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama, who lost 6-3 6-3 and had to dodge a number of stinging shots at the net, particularly from Venus.
"I just wouldn't want to face them too much. They are ferocious," Serena said of her sister's shots. The sisters have faced each other in seven Major singles-finals.
"She's covering the whole net. At one point today, I literally stood back and she took care of everything."
It was a good tuneup for Serena's singles-final on Saturday, when she will face Russia's Dinara Safina.
With the temperature topping 113°F in the late afternoon, the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament's Extreme-Heat Policy was again put in effect. It was opened later for the men's match.
Some top players avoid doubles, worrying that the extra time on court might hamper their singles-prospects. While they took a long time off from doubles as both dealt with injuries — resulting in them being seeded only 10th at Melbourne Park — the Williams-sisters have gotten back together recently, winning Wimbledon and the Olympic Gold Medal at Beijing last year.
"I have a great partner," Serena said. "I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves. We put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles. For me it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go for the win in both events."
Fun indeed. They dropped only one set in six matches, playing better as the tournament went along. They were chatting and laughing on Friday as if they were playing with some friends.
"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both extremely positive," Venus said. "We never, ever in our lives have said nasty things to each other. We just don't operate that way."
There's also a different mood for them than in singles.
"I think that when you play good points in doubles, you tend to smile a little more, enjoy that point with someone else," Venus said. "It's definitely a different kind of feeling, ‘cause in singles you're so focused, you don't even smile, you just move to that next point without any kind of elation."
The sisters held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging each other on court.
"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus said. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."
They have won doubles-titles at all four Majors: a milestone that Sugiyama had been hoping to achieve by winning here with Hantuchová.
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Williams-sisters win doubles-title at Australian Open (PA SportsTicker)
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Serena and Venus Williams claimed the doubles-title at the Australian Open on Friday, forging a 6-3 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama of Japan.
It was the 14th career doubles-title for the 10th-seeded Williams-sisters, and eighth in a Major.
"I have a great partner," Serena said. "I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves. We put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles. For me it's great practice, great fun."
The triumph was also the Williams' third title in Melbourne after winning here in 2001 and 2003.
The sisters are tied with Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez for the third-most Major doubles-titles in the Open Era, sitting behind only Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver (21), and Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva (14).
The American duo needed only 75 minutes to finish Hantuchová and Sugiyama, who were seeded ninth, forging eight break-points and winning six.
The Williamses won 71% of their first-serve points (20 of 28), overcoming three double faults and 20 unforced errors - one more than their opponents - en route to the victory.
Serena will try to sweep the women's titles at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she faces third-seeded Russian Dinara Safina in the singles-final.
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Sisterly Sweep (Alberto Amalfi, TENNIS.com)
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The Williams-sisters delivered another dose of finality to the Major field.
Venus and Serena pounded ninth-seeded Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 today to capture their third career Australian Open doubles-crown.
Moving as if connected by a cord, the sisters swarmed the net in shrinking the open court-space their veteran opponents had to work with when they weren't blasting rifle-returns from the baseline.
"They're all so wonderful," Venus said of their Major titles. "I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both extremely positive. We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it. I think that we're so good at putting the ball away; I think it helps us so much."
It was the Williams-sisters' eighth career Major doubles-title together. They now hold both the Wimbledon and Australian Open crowns. The sisters, who were seeded 10th but are widely regarded as the most dominant doubles-team in women's tennis, also partnered to win Wimbledon and capture their second consecutive Gold Medal in doubles in Beijing last year.
Though they generally do not play much doubles these days, their eight career doubles Majors place Venus and Serena tied for third among the most successful Major doubles-duos in the Open Era. Hall-of-Famers Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver - who are both working as analysts covering the Australian Open - won 21 Majors. Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva combined to capture 14 Major titles, followed by Virginia Ruano Pascual and partner Paola Suárez, and the Williams-sisters.
Serena summed up their success simply — picking the right partner has been key.
"I have a great partner. I don't have to work too hard out there," Serena said. "Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves. We put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles. For me it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go for the win in both events."
Serena, who faces Dinara Safina in Saturday night's singles-final, will try to sweep Australian Open singles- and doubles-titles for the first time since 2003, when she edged Venus 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4 in singles, and partnered Venus to beat Ruano Pascual and Suárez 4-6 6-4 6-3. Venus swept singles- and doubles-championships at Wimbledon in July.
Playing doubles has helped Serena - who did not produce her best form during the first week of play - find her serve and refine her return-game in singles. In the early rounds of doubles-play, Serena was ripping her crosscourt forehand with more precision in doubles, and that shot proved to be effective in her victory over Elena Dementieva in the singles semi-final.
Though the sisters would likely have already reached double digits in Major doubles-victories had they played more consistently together, they could claim the single-season Grand Slam if they play all four Majors.
"We're going to do our best [to play the other Majors this season]," Venus said. "If we keep playing, I think we can just keep getting titles. We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight years. If we would have played during that time, we probably would have gotten even more."
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Milestones keep coming for 27-year-old legend Williams (Saturday 31st January 2009)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2945
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As part of the blockbuster Williams-sisters partnership with Venus, Serena also captured the doubles-title: their eighth Major doubles-title together; they downed Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama in an entertaining two-setter in the final on Friday, stopping Sugiyama from becoming the fourth active player to earn the Career Women's Doubles Grand Slam. The other three players to have achieved the feat are Lisa Raymond and, well, the Williams-sisters.
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