Australian Open day one review for Australian women

It was a slow start for the Australian women at the Australian Open. Just Daria Saville took to the courts.

Melbourne, Australia; 12th Jan 2025: Daria Saville of Australia serving during a match on Margaret Court Arena. Melbourne, Australia. (Photo Credit: Rob Keating/RobiciaTennisPhotography)

Saville, a wildcard, faced Anna Blinkova, best known for her defeat of Elena Rybakina in a record breaking tie breaker in the second round of the 2024 edition.

Saville made a promising start as she took the opening set in convincing fashion. The score was 6-1 after just 31 minutes.

Game seven in the second set would be a crucial game. Saville held multiple break points but wasn’t able to convert, instead Blinkova held and then broke Saville in the 10th game to claim the second set 6-4.

In the deciding third set Saville got a break in the third game to lead 2-1. The Australian would consolidate the break for a 3-1 advantage.

Blinkova would strike back in the sixth game to break and level the scores at 3-3.

In the seventh game it was again Saville with a number of break point opportunities, but she just could not put away a winner to claim that game.

Games went with serve until it was 5-6 with Saville serving to take the match to a breaker. Blinkova had other ideas and broke the Australian to claim a hard fought 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory after two hours and 32 minutes.

A match with plenty of opportunities for the Australian but too many unforced errors got in the way.

Leave a Comment