While Maria Sakkari was able to react to dominate Diana Shnaider in three sets, Jessica Pegula was able to get rid of Aliaksandra Sasnovich to join the third round of the Australian Open. Petra Kvitova, meanwhile, was outed ingloriously by Anhelina Kalinina.
Maria Sakkari intends to achieve her best course in Melbourne. The Greek, who has never passed the round of 16 at the Australian Open, has difficulty validating her ticket for the third round at the expense of Diana Shnaider. Indeed, the seeded number 6 was overtaken by the Russian, who took her service straight away. An advantage that the 106th in the world did not have to defend excessively except in the last game. After dismissing three break points, it was on the fifth set point that she validated her good start to the match. The reply from the number 6 seed was immediate with the second set entry break. The end of the set was marked by a streak of three lost service games that allowed Diana Shnaider to come back level. Maria Sakkari then raised her voice and, after missing three opportunities on her opponent’s serve in the tenth game, it was at the gates of the tiebreak that the Greek was able to equalize at one set everywhere. An end to the match which was marked by three consecutive breaks which gave the hand to Maria Sakkari. The world number 6 then missed two match points on the Russian’s commitment but it was on hers that she had the last word (3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in 2h35 ‘).
Pegula in two stages against Sasnovich
Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, spent much less time on the court but did not have a totally easy match. Opposed to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the No. 3 seed was initially in control. Taking the service of the Belarusian from the start before confirming this ascendancy in order to lead four games to one, the American then lost one of her breaks in advance, which she was able to regain in stride. She then concluded the first run at the second opportunity. A scenario that began to repeat itself when Jessica Pegula took the service of her opponent at the start of the second set. But, after repelling three opportunities to pick up Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the world number 3 gave in… before taking the lead again. Then serving for the match, Jessica Pegula experienced a jump in tension that allowed the 38th in the world to return to five games everywhere. A decisive game then concluded the debates. Very attached from start to finish, it was finally the American who was able to take the lead to conclude with her second match point (6-2, 7-6 in 1h32 ‘).
Kvitova takes the door
Petra Kvitova saw her Australian Open end in the second round. Anhelina Kalinina got the better of the number 15 seed. In danger on her serve from the first game, the Czech was able to hold on before missing two break points in the sixth. A first set whose conclusion was marked by a sequence of three lost service games, which allowed the Ukrainian to pass in front. Serving for the set win, Anhelina Kalinina didn’t lose her footing and got what she was looking for on the second occasion. The start of the second set quickly saw the 39th in the world take the lead but failed to convert the two break points obtained very early. After a third failure in the seventh game, it was in the ninth that she achieved her goals. On a white game, Anhelina Kalinina took the service of Petra Kvitova before putting an end to the debates in the same way (7-5, 6-4 in 2h00 ‘).
