Sharapova Survives Aussie Open Epic
With her back against the wall, she just hit harder and harder - Maria Sharapova saved two match points to win an absolute epic and stay alive at the Australian Open.
Published January 21, 2015 12:15
MELBOURNE, Australia - Maria Sharapova survived an absolute epic at the Australian Open on Wednesday, rallying from 4-1 down in the third set - as well as fighting off two match points down 5-4 - to hold off unheralded yet inspired Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova, 6-1, 4-6 7-5.
It seemed pretty straightforward on paper going into it - Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, the World No.2, undefeated on the year, and Panova, a No.150-ranked qualifier who had never won a main draw match at a Grand Slam before beating Sorana Cirstea in the first round here.
And early on it was straightforward, Sharapova cruising through the first set in just 26 minutes, but something began brewing from there - Panova began serving bigger, hitting more corners and upping her consistency, while unforced errors began creeping into Sharapova's game. Not before long, Panova had the second set, 6-4, and was up 4-1 in the third, even bringing up points for 5-1.
It was a few games later when Panova was on the verge of victory, though. Serving for the match at 5-4, she brought up her first match point at 40-30 - Sharapova swatted it away with a forehand return winner. Panova won the deuce point to bring up a second match point at ad-in - Sharapova swatted that one away, too, this time with a crosscourt forehand angle winner. It was almost too late at that point - from the first match point, Sharapova ripped winners on five of the next seven points to get out of that game, and she snuck out two more games to close out the match.
"I'm just happy to be through," Sharapova said in her on-court interview.
"I felt like I wasn't playing my best tennis today, and she played a really inspired match - she had already played a few matches in the qualifying here and came out today with not much to lose, swinging freely and really going for her shots, and hitting one of the biggest serves out there.
"I was twice a point away from being out of the tournament. I'm just happy to win the last point."
From:WTA news
