Australia’s Talia Gibson faced the toughest test of her career when she took on world no. 7 Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round at Indian Wells.
A string of errors saw Gibson broken in the fourth game to see the Italian take an early 3-1 lead.
In the very next Gibson jumped out to a 0-40 lead, Paolini won the next two points before a great display of power hitting from Gibson saw her force an error from her opponent to level the score.
Gibson comfortably held serve in the next game before making Paolini work to hold serve in the 7th game.
Both players had comfortable service holds in the 9th and 10th games to see Paolini serving at 5-5.
Gibson hit back-to-back winners to jump to a 0-30 lead. Paolini matched her with a winner of her own, following by a good drop shot to get to 30-30.
Gibson earned a break point after forcing an error from her opponent however Paolini would serve her first Ace to save the break.
A second serve was belted by Gibson on the next point to earn another break point. This time she had a look at a second serve. Gibson just over hit a forehand to see Paolini at deuce again. This time it was Paolini hitting long to bring up the third break point.
Gibson had an unforced error on the service return to again miss her chance, but another big forehand forced an error. Now it was the fourth service break opportunity, finally she got the break to step up to serve for the set.
The pressure was on the Australian as she served for the set however it was Paolini that made the first error. Paolini got the next point for 15-15. A good wide serve from Gibson forced a return error.
Gibson takes the opening set
The Australian qualifier was now just two points from the set. The next point was a display of power hitting from Gibson when she finally hit a winner, another winner and the opening set was hers, 7-5.
Gibson served at 65% and won 75% of first serve points. She had 18 winners to 16 unforced errors. Paolini hit 9 winners to 11 unforced errors in the opening set.
Paolini raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set and had break points to take a 4-0 lead, but Gibson would keep herself in the set at 3-1.
The Italian would break to love at 2-5 to seal the set and send the match to a deciding set.
Gibson only landed 50% of her first serves in the second set while Paolini served at 76%. Gibson had 8 winner to 19 unforced errors and Paolini was at 11 winners and just 7 unforced errors.
Paolini bounces back before Gibson dominates the Italian
It would be interesting to see how Gibson would bounce back from losing the second set.
After leaving the court during the set break, it was Gibson that would break in the opening game of the third set.
Gibson had the chance to jump to a 40-0 lead in the next game but didn’t put away a ball at the net. Paolini guessed where it was going and lobbed the Australian. An error on the next point and it was at 30-30.
A big forehand from Gibson forced an error to give the qualifier a game point. After another forehand winner from Gibson, she consolidated the break to lead 2-0.
After another winner from the Australian she was looking at a break point for a double break, an error saw that slip, but shortly after Gibson had another look. Again an error saw that opportunity pass by.
At deuce Gibson had a big swing at a second serve but over played the shot. The next point and it was again Gibson hitting a winner to get back to deuce.
Paolini would fight off the break points to hold and see Gibson serving at 2-1.
Gibson would hold comfortably before launching a blitz on the Paolini serve. Gibson was hitting winner from the service returns to earn three break points.
The first was saved with Paolini hitting a winner, but yet another brillian return saw Paolini forced into error to give Gibson a 4-1 lead.
The next service game would be crucial.
Gibson would hold to love to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
The winners kept coming and after Gibson hit a backhand service return winner to bring up match point, and how fitting it was to see another winner from Gibson and the match was hers.
The final score was 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. It wasa 44 winners to 26 in favour of Gibson. Unforced errors were 44 from the Australian and just 26 from Paolini.
Gibson now has a top-ten victory under her belt as she advances to the quarter-finals. A remarkable effort from the Australian.
The Australian is the first qualifier to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals in 11 years.
After the match Gibson said she was feeling very confident after the Australian summer of tennis.
The world no. 112 has now shot up to no. 68 in the live rankings.
Next up is the winner of Alexandra Eala and Linda Noskova.
Also read – Gibson does it again in Indian Wells