Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates during her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates during her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Former World No. 1 player Simona Halep took on 2020 Roland Garros champion, Iga Swiatek, in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2021.
In their meeting today, it was a close contest, as the match was decided in three sets. Simona turned the match in her favor after losing the first set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
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Ahead of their clash today, Iga and Simona met on two occasions, with each player winning one match. Both those matches were played on clay courts. Both those matches were played at the French Open, in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Simona won in 2019, while Iga clinched the win in 2020 when she went on to lift the title.
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Iga Swiatek breaks Simona Halep in the first set
As the match began, the Polish player held serve in the opening game of the first set. Both players held serve with great effect, until the 9th game, when Iga broke Simona to love.
Breaking Halep put Swiatek in the driver’s set, with her serving at 5-3. After 37 minutes, Iga claimed the opening set 6-3 in her favor.
During the set, Halep’s level dropped as the match was entering the crucial stages of the first set. Halep managed to win only 25% of her second service points. Swiatek’s groundstrokes proved decisive as she slammed 14 winners past her opponent.
The Romanian star began serving in the second set and held her serve with ease. In the very next game, Halep raised her level of gameplay and got the required break, taking a 2-0 lead in the set.
After 13 minutes into the set, Simona took a 3-0 lead, looking in control of the set. After breaking Swiatek for the second time in the set, Halep took the set 6-1.
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep in action during her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Loren Elliott
As the final set began, Iga was broken in the first game and Simona consolidated it by holding serve after shrugging off a few niggles.
The experience of the Romanian came to her rescue while the Pole was struggling. Both players exchanged breaks, as the match came to an interesting point, at 3-2 on Halep’s serve.
After nearly two hours, the World No. 2 Simona Halep won the deciding set 6-4 and moved into the quarterfinal of the Australian Open 2021 but does she have what it takes to go all the way?
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