AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Pressure Points - 網球

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Pressure Points
24/01/2006:

Justine defeated the #1 seed, and player, Lindsay Davenport 2-6 6-2 6-3, in a
very taut evening quarterfinal match on Rod Laver Arena. The first two sets
were full of tension, but Justine was able to free herself from the pressure
points, and soar to the occasion. The Belgian will next play Maria Sharapova
in the semi-final.

It was the 11th meeting between the two Australian Open champions, yet the
most taut. Justine started out the first set, and failed practically all of
her service games. Lindsay was rigid- yet in control blasting from the
baseline to an edgy Justine. The first set went to the 2000 Australian Open
champion 2-6 in 34 minutes.

In almost identical fashion, Lindsay failed her service games in the second
set with unforced errors, and apprehensive points that unraffled out of her
grasp. Justine on the other hand, changed the course of the rallies by mixing
pace, and finding the right aces at key moments. The second set went to the
2004 Australian Open champion 6-2 in 36 minutes.

A slight momentum shift was triggered in the start of the third set after
Justine held her opening service game, and broke Lindsay's. The American's
range of serves dropped off considerably from the immacuate version shown in
the first set; she gave in easily to the pressure from the Belgian at 3-2.
The acute angle rallies were of outstanding caliber in the third set. Returns
that were regularly clean sharp winners against mere mortal tennis players,
but not against each other, brought the best out of the elite duo. A desolute
Davenport slowly caved in from 4-2 down, as Justine became stronger. Two aces
were served by the Belgian in the final points for the match; 6-3 in 47
minutes.

Final score 2-6 6-2 6-3 in 1hr 57 minutes

Congratulations Justine!


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