23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams has fought off a strong challenge from the world no. 1 Simona Halep, in what was a match worthy of a final. It looked like Williams would steam-roll right through to the quarter-finals, but Halep wasn’t going down without a fight. Williams is through to her 50th Grand Slam quarter-final after her 6-1 4-6 6-3-6 victory of Halep.
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Photo: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning match point in her fourth round match against Simona Halep of Romania during day eight of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)
Halep had a triple break point in the opening game, and a double fault by the American handed her the break. However, Williams’ shaky start was soon forgotten as she went on to win the next six games and quickly took the first set in 20 minutes.
It seemed like it was all over for the world no. 1 as Williams appeared to have total control over the match, but Halep finally held her serve in the first game of the second set. However, Williams took the lead again and broke in the third game. A break point opportunity for Halep emerged when she hit a forehand winner, only to see Serena serve big, forcing a wide return. A second break opportunity came when Williams hit into the net, this time Halep converted off another Williams unforced error.
The score was now levelled at 2-2. Halep was growing in confidence and held to love. Then games went with serve until Williams was serving at 4-5 and she opened the serve with back-to-back forced errors. She fought back to level at 30-30, only to see Halep hit a backhand winner down the line to bring up a set point. She won the set when Williams sent a backhand long.
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Photo: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Simona Halep of Romania hits a forehand to Serena Williams of the United States during day eight of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Williams had a chance to break in the first game of the deciding set, but she hit the ball into the net, preventing her from converting the break point. Williams hit the ball into the net again in the sixth game which brought up a break point for the Romanian, but Halep miss hit the return sending the ball well out. She earned another break point but did not convert on a second serve. A third break opportunity arised for Halep after she hit a cross-court backhand winner, but it yet again saved, this time with a service winner. Williams held her serve to level at 3-3.
In the next Halep game, the world no. 1 hit long to give Williams a crucial break point opportunity. She broke for a 4-3 lead when Halep hit into the net, and then Williams held comfortably to edge closer to victory. Halep would hold to force Williams to serve for the match at 5-4.
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Photo: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Serena Williams of the United States hits a forehand to Simona Halep of Romania during day eight of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Halep gave her fans some hope when she won the first point of the game, only to see Williams take the next four to secure her spot in the quarter-final against Karolina Pliskova, the no. 7 seed from the Czech Republic. Williams leads their head-2-head 2-1, as she seeks her 24th Grand Slam title to level with Magaret Court. Pliskova, however, is seeking her first semi-final in Melbourne Park, as well as her first Grand Slam title.
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