Belinda
Bencic 5-7, 5-7 Maria Sharapova (Australian Open R16)
This was a
blockbuster fourth round match between Sharapova and Bencic, with both players
meeting for the first time in their career. Many fans have looked forward to
seeing this match happening one day; with youth up against experience. Bencic,
who has received a lot of spotlight despite her very young age, is the 12th
seeded player at the Australian Open while Sharapova, who used to be a teenage
sensation too, is the 5th seeded player. Sharapova managed to win
her 600th match of her career earlier in her campaign against Lauren
Davis in a hard-fought 3 set match which saw Sharapova having a mid-match
wobble.
Sharapova
threatened to break immediately in the second game, after holding her serve
comfortably to start the match on a positive note. However, she was unable to
capitalise on her sole break point opportunity in that game as Bencic managed
to carve out a tough service hold. Sharapova almost made the first breakthrough
in Bencic’s next service game, but failed to convert all 3 of her break point
opportunities, once again. Surprisingly, it was Bencic who drew first blood by
breaking Sharapova’s serve, despite being only able to win 1 point on
Sharapova’s serve in her previous return games. Known for her tough character,
Sharapova broke back immediately, managing to force errors out of Bencic. There
was a 3rd break of service when Bencic once again broke Sharapova’s
serve to once again take the lead in the set. Nevertheless, Sharapova made the
match level again with a 4th consecutive break of serve. There was
finally a hold of service, when Sharapova managed to overpower 3 unforced
errors with 3 powerful aces. Serving to stay in the set, Bencic showed nerves
of steel to hold her serve, saving set points in the process. 3 unforced errors
in a row almost costed Sharapova a 40-0 lead in her service game, but she
maintained her composure to hold her serve and let the match stay on serve. Serving
to stay in the set for the 2nd time, Bencic was destructed by
Sharapova’s powerful returns and lost the hard-fought set 7-5 after 64 minutes.
The first set saw Sharapova winning only 3 out of 13 break point opportunities,
which is very disappointing.
Sharapova
started the 2nd set with a tough 11 minute hold of service, saving a
break point in the process. There was only 1 break of serve in the whole of the
2nd set, happening at 5-6 when Bencic was serving once again, the
same situation as Set 1. Nevertheless, both players still managed to find break
point opportunities, but did not manage to win them. Sharapova almost got
broken in her second service game, but she managed to save it with an ace, and
eventually she held her serve. Sharapova was in trouble again, this time in her
next service game, where she had to save break point to hold her service. Once
again, she saved break point with a powerful ace. Sharapova found her 1st
break point opportunities in the 2nd set, but made an unforced error
to throw the opportunity away. Finally at 5-6, when Bencic was serving to stay
in the match, Sharapova used her champion’s mentality and experience of over 10
years playing on the tour to break her serve and win the tough match after 2
hours and 5 minutes. On match point, Sharapova challenged a call that ruled her
return winner out, and it turned out to be on the line, and therefore Sharapova
won the challenge and the match after Bencic did not make a play on it.
This match
saw Sharapova hitting 21 aces, the most in any single match of her career. She
was lethal on her serve, winning 85% of her first service points and hitting 58
winners.
Bencic
|
Sharapova
|
|
Aces
|
0
|
21
|
DFs
|
2
|
7
|
1st Serve
|
60%
|
47%
|
1st Serve Won
|
61%
|
85%
|
2nd Serve Won
|
47%
|
45%
|
Break Points
|
2/5
|
4/16
|
Winners
|
10
|
58
|
Unforced Errors
|
19
|
46
|
Points Won
|
86
|
95
|