The best women's matches at the Australian Open 2020
With Sofia Kenin , an outsider struck at the first Grand Slam tournament of 2020. The American was also involved in some of the best matches.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Dec 02, 2020, 05:48 pm
# 1: 3rd round, Qiang Wang vs. Serena Williams 6: 4, 6: 7 (2), 7: 5
Who would have thought: Not only that Serena came to Melbourne with the first title win since 2017 in Auckland, no, in the last meeting of the two at the US Open 2019, the American Wang had absolutely no chance. At 1: 6 and 0: 6, the Chinese hadn't managed to win a single win. In the third round of the Australian Open 2020 it was 25th Serena, who failed again on the way to her 24th major title, booked 43 winners. But also 56 mistakes without need, compared to only 20 by Wang, who left the field as the winner after a playing time of 2:41 hours.
# 2: 3rd round, Cori Gauff vs. Naomi Osaka 6: 3, 6: 4
It wasn't just Serena who had to experience how quickly times in tennis change against Qiang Wang. Naomi Osaka also went into the third-round duel in Melbourne with the memory of a smooth victory against Cori Gauff at the US Open. And as in New York, Osaka determined the match - for better or for worse. The defending champion, who looked very nervous from the start, scored 17 wins (Gauff only six). In the Unforced Errors, Osaka was also ahead with 30:17. after 67 minutes of play, Gauff was able to look forward to the place in the round of 16.
# 3: 3rd round, Angelique Kerber vs. Camila Giorgi 6: 2, 6: 7 (4), 6: 3
There she was again. Angelique Kerber , who won the title in Melbourne in 2016 with her fighting spirit and her defensive skills. Camila Giorgi was constantly pushing the pace, and in the end she had 49 direct wins on her balance sheet (Kerber only 15). However, the Italian also made 65 mistakes without need - and, conversely, Kerber only gave 16 points.
# 4: semi-finals, Sofia Kenin vs. Ashleigh Barty 7: 6 (6), 7: 5
Second big disappointment for Ashleigh Barty within a few weeks in her home country: At the end of the 2019 season, the world number one could not close the bag in the Fed Cup final against France, now she failed in first place to Sofia Kenin. Striking in this match: the good service performance of both players. Barty and Kenin only allowed four breakballs each. The American used two of them, the local favorite only one.
# 5: Finale, Sofia Kenin vs. Garbine Muguruza 4: 6, 6: 2, 6: 4
The title match must of course not count in this list. If only because it initially went straight in the expected direction: Muguruza, who had already won two major titles, would finally win the title in Melbourne - just as surprisingly as she did in 2016 in Roland Garros and 2017 in Wimbledon was. In fact, after a playing time of 2:03 hours, Kenin left the court as the winner. Also because Muguruza had shown nerves and produced eight double errors. Above all, however, because the American was much more efficient in using her break chances: While Muguruza only knew how to use two of twelve opportunities, Kenin only missed one of six chances.