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SteemSports Editor:
Simona Halep, the world number 1, is showing some resilience this year at the Australian Open. She already saved 3 match points against Lauren Davis in 1/16 match, which Halep eventually won 4-6 6-4 15-13. Halep won that match despite the fact that she was playing with an injured ankle. Of course, it should not be a surprise that Simona Halep is such a fighter because one does not simply become world's number one without challenges. And today, Simona faced the biggest challenge this year so far - Angelique Kerber.
Simona Halep started the match with high intensity and aggression, and in 20 minutes the score was 5-0. It looked as if Angie was sleeping on the court. However, Angie started finding those lines later in the set and even had hopes for a comeback after she won a couple of games to make the score 5-3. However, Angie couldn't keep up the pace, failed to make some first serves and allowed Halep to break her and win the first set 6-3.
Simona Halep wanted to finish the business fast and kept her pace in the second set as well, getting an early lead 3-1. At that point, I thought that Angelique Kerber was dead and gone, but well, the unexpected is part of the beauty of women tennis. Halep made a couple of unforced errors out of nowhere and allowed Kerber to get back into the game 3-3. However, Simona Halep had a perfect chance to break Kerber again at 4-3 and serve for the match, but she hit the ball a couple of millimeters too long. It was obvious that Halep got a little frustrated after that and Kerber used the opportunity to steal the second set 6-4. And just like this, Kerber was back in the match, and Simona Halep had to find motivation again to close the match which was already won in her head.
And Angelique Kerber used that momentum from the second set to get an early break in the third set and take the driver's seat for the first time in this match. However, Simona Halep broke back instantly after a couple of beautiful and aggressive shots. After that, both players held to their serves pretty well right up until the eight game of the set, in which Simona Halep took advantage of Kerber's passive play and unforced errors. So, after almost two hours on the court, Simon Halep got a chance to serve for the match. She even took the lead 30-15, but it wouldn't be fun to win this way so Simona decided to choke and give the game away, 5-4. Of course, Angie's forehands down the line were just amazing as usual today, and on many occasions, Halep had no other choice than to watch the ball going past through her.
That said, Simona Halep was a way more aggressive player today, and she even made 50 winners, which is probably her personal best result ever. This aggressive play earned her a couple of match points on Kerber's serve. However, Halep wasted those two chances. The second one was painful in particular as Halep controlled the rally and only needed to hit forehand smash from the net, but she overcooked the shot and hit it wide. Kerber survived and used the momentum to break Halep and serve for the match 6-5. It seemed like Halep collapsed and had no more energy in her to fight, especially when Kerber played a couple of nice points and got two match points on her serve 40-15. And suddenly, Halep started playing magically again, hitting those winners and playing super aggressive to stay in the match and eventually win it 9-7. It was the second time in this Australian Open when Simona Halep played those marathon matches and even saved match points. Despite her failing ankle, it seems like Simona is ready to win her first Grand Slam title. However, she will face Wozniacki, who is also eager to win her first Grand Slam after two failures in the past. So, the match on Saturday will earn one of the players her first Grand Slam title and the number one position in WTA.
I am sticking with Simona Halep as I have a bet on her since the beginning of the Australian Open. The odds were 11:1 so Simona's victory could buy me a ticket to China. But who will you support?
