Midnight power! Robson pulls off shock win in thriller with ex-Wimbledon champ Kvitova
By MIKE DICKSON
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Over a wildly undulating three hours of combat that ended at half past midnight on a sultry Melbourne evening she came through 2-6, 6-3, 11-9 to confirm she can match talent with
bloody-minded determination.
bloody-minded determination.
As a contest it was often not a thing of beauty, two aggressive left-handed styles awkwardly clashing and creating a mountain of mistakes, but it was a superbly gutsy display that saw Robson through, serving it out at the second time of asking having flunked the task at 7-6 in the decider.
Shock win: Laura Robson (pictured) celebrates her shock win over world No 8 Petra Kvitova
IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH..
British No 1 Heather Watson will Agnieszka Radwanska at midnight tonight in the third round of the Australian Open and you can follow it HERE
She now faces promising American Sloane Stephens, having followed up her US Open wins over Li Na and Kim Clijsters with another high-profile win. With Heather Watson due to play what was now later in the day, Britain has two women in the last 32 of a Slam for the first time since 1991.
Despite the late hour thousands stayed on to cheer Robson to victory, the 18 year-old Londoner having been born in Melbourne before leaving for the UK via Singapore as an infant.
'I could definitely here the crowd, I’m pleased so many people stayed,' she said. 'I knew it was going to be really tough, I always struggle to play lefties and I really struggled to return her serve in the first set but in the end I got through.'
Huge upset: She pulled off an heroic victory over the 2011 Wimbledon champion
Kvitova put in a hit and miss display, summed up by a figure of 18 aces and 18 double faults but she cannot complain about the outcome.
This was Robson’s third appearance on the main Rod Laver Arena, although the first under lights and certainly the first before a large crowd. The other two were her appearances in the junior Australian Open final, both of which ended in defeat.
The Wimbledon-based teenager had shown before that she likes the big stage, notably at the US Open, where she took out both Kim Clijsters and Li Na. Kvitova had not had the best of starts to the season, suffering two defeats from three matches, but remains a formidable ball striker.
Dejected: Petra Kvitova (pictured) throws her racket to the ground during the epic clash with Laura Robson
She will have been encouraged by the terrible start made by a nervy-looking Robson, who began with two double faults, a wild forehand and netted forehand volley to concede the first game to love.
Although the extreme heat of earlier in the day had receded it was extremely sultry and both players looked edgy with Kvitova, who looks to have got into better shape over the off season, handing the break back with some mistakes of her own.
As both players were being aggressive on serve and return there were going to be errors and soon the double faults and aces were racking up as the Czech forged ahead to 5-2.
Delighted: Robson's coach Zeljko Krajanis is understandably happy as he watched the match unfold
Given her heritage it was no surprise that Robson – watched by her father Andrew and sister Emily, who lives here – would engender crowd support if she could give them the chance to get behind her but there were too many mistakes to properly pressure the 2011 Wimbledon champion.
The flashes of talent were there but no consistency, partly due to trying to be so pro-active on the return of serve. Kvitova showed how vulnerable she also was by double faulting twice at 5-2 and 40-15.
After six break points – on one of which Robson declined to challenge what looked a poor line call – Kvitova finally struck an ace to wrap up the opener in 38 minutes.
Robson continued with her low-margin strategy in the second as she visibly relaxed more into the occasion and after missing opportunities in the second game finally opened up a lead that extended to 5-1 in the second.
Appreciation: Fans show their support for the 18-year-old
Differing fortunes: The pair were locked in an epic tussle for more than three hours, as the final set went to 20 games before finishing past midnight
Although she failed to serve out at 5-3 – her ball toss was a constant struggle – she did so comfortably for 6-3, and when they came out for the third no rally had lasted longer than thirteen strokes in this slugfest.
Kvitova looked to be struggling more of the two in the heat and took herself off for a comfort break, which seemed to do the trick.
She came out with a new plan to rush the net when the opportunity presented itself and that caught the British No 2 unawares, as she quickly fell behind 3-0. As the clock ticked towards midnight some of the crowd drifted off while more and more of the insect nightlife came in under the bright lights.
Thirsty work: Robson takes a drink in 40 degree heat
There remained a disjointed quality as Robson fought back to 2-3, helped by a fourteenth double fault from Kvivtova, an embarrassing figure for a No 8 seed and former Grand Slam champion.
Neither seemed capable of grabbing the initiative, and breaks were swapped again as they got up to 25 double faults between them. Yet in tune with the topsy turvy nature of the contest it was Kvitova’s serve that saved her when Robson forced three break points at 4-4, pulling three aces out of nowhere to get ahead.
Shake: The pair muster some energy to shake at the end of the game
Robson was looking marginally the more relaxed and with Kvitova struggling with her breathing as temperatures remained in the thirties with midnight approaching she finally forced a break for 6-5 when her opponent struck a despairing forehand long.
But in a match of remarkably abrupt momentum shifts Robson’s arm stiffened as she served for it, losing the potential clincher to 15. At 7-7 Kvitova got the rough end of a line call that should have been allowed as a clean ace, and immediately afterwards she was set point down with a horrendous volley miss.
Forehand: Robson returns a shot
But both players held firm on their serve until 9-9, when Robson drilled a return winner down the line to clinch the break. Having failed to get a first serve in at her first attempt to seal it she made a solid start and this time nervelessly closed the contest out, winning the game to love.
Like with Watson it was a magnificently determined effort, sometimes it is hard to tell them apart.
Victory: Robson waves to a jubilant crowd, she faces Sloan Stevens in the next round
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2263906/Laura-Robson-beats-Petra-Kvitova-Australian-Open.html#ixzz2IFPekE4x
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