Crumbled ... Stosur had control of the third set but couldn't finish the job. Source: News Limited
Samantha Stosur has suffered more Australian Open heartache, collapsing to a dramatic second-round loss to China's former semi-finalist Zheng Jie.
Stosur blew a 5-2 third-set lead to succumb 6-4 1-6 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.
The shattering defeat continued Stosur's horror run at her home grand slam, the 2011 US Open champion having never ventured beyond the fourth round in 11 visits to Melbourne.
Stosur appeared to have the match in the bag only to twice falter while trying to serve it out and then dropping serve for a third consecutive time to hand the world No.40 victory after two hours and 42 minutes.
The odds were stacked against Stosur when she dropped the opening set after 54 minutes.
The Queenslander had won only six grand slam matches from 37 tries after losing the first set and also fell victim to Zheng last week in Sydney.
But the local hope gritted her teeth to force a third set and raise hopes of a rare comeback win.
Alas, Zheng reeled off five straight games to snatch victory and set up a third-round clash on Friday with No. 18 seed Julia Goerges.
Zheng, also a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, struck the first blow of the match on Wednesday, unleashing a brilliant backhand pass and deadly forehand return winner to break Stosur for 4-3 in the first set.
But Stosur rifled one of her signature off-forehand winners to break back immediately for 4-4.
But, Stosur's famed kick serve deserted her in the next game as she coughed up three double-faults and then dragged a forehand wide to gift Zheng a decisive second break.
In a dramatic 12-minute game, Stosur fought off seven set points - the sixth one after winning the rally of the match with a broken string - only to frame a forehand volley to hand Zheng the opening set after 54 minutes.
Zheng sought a medical time-out to have treatment for her right knee, but it didn't seem to hinder her as she continued to work Stosur from side to side at the start of the second set.
Stosur had to stave off two more break points to hold her opening service game in the second set as her backhand continually failed her.
The No.9 seed had her booming forehand to thank for gaining a foothold in the match, Stosur jumping into successive service returns to break Jie for 3-1.
She claimed a double break to charge ahead to 5-1 and comfortably served out the set to love to be back on level terms.
Double-faults dogged both players early in the deciding set as the pair traded breaks.
In what looked to be the turning point of the match, Stosur fended off four more break points to hold from love-40 down and skip 3-1 ahead.
Stosur squandered an identical scoreline against Zheng last week and, even after she claimed the security of a double break for 5-2, she did so again.
In a devastating finish, Stosur gifted Zheng the match with her ninth double fault.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Stosur crumbles at Aussie Open
Dengan url
http://ikhlasngeblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/stosur-crumbles-at-aussie-open.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Stosur crumbles at Aussie Open
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Stosur crumbles at Aussie Open
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar