By Franklin L. Johnson | Wednesday, January 21, 2015
As Day 3 of this dynamic Australian Open hurtled deep into the Melbourne night, the ferocious comebacks of Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova reinforced a tennis truth.
WTA: Clutch Sharapova Claws Back to Defeat Panova
In the hierarchy of pro game, there are players, there are tenacious competitors and then there are the rare breed of pure warriors.
Sharapova and Nadal showed why they are tennis' ultimate warriors.
Both champions found a way to fight through challenging qualifers and the hottest conditions of the tournament, producing gritty efforts when their best tennis eluded them.
Battling an inspired Tim Smyczek, nerves and dizziness, Nadal relied on his survival skills in digging out a demanding 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-5 triumph that spanned more than four hours and nearly knocked Nadal out of the tournament.
The third-ranked Spaniard dropped to his knees in an eruption of relief after converting his fourth match point. Nadal said afterward it was one of the toughest major matches of his career.
“In terms of feeling bad on the court, yes. Probably yes,” Nadal said. “I was close to not continue because I felt that I was very dizzy.
“After the third, fourth, and fifth (sets), I tried to play much more aggressive, without running, no running anymore, and try to go for the winners. In terms of physically, at the end of the match I started to feel little bit better.”
For some observers, Sharapova may be one of the most polarizing Grand Slam champions in recent years. Critics say she's a one-note power player whose relentless screeching, deliberate pace of play and baseline bashing are both grating signs of a player empowered by entitlement.
But the French Open champion is a fighter of the highest order and a role model of resolve. Clenched fist illustrating her commitment to the cause, Sharapova showed sheer wil lpower blasting forehands to erase two match points in a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 comeback over 150th-ranked qualifier Alexandra Panova.
Sure, you say she's a one-note songster whose powerful flat strokes camouflage a shaky serve, aversion to the overhead and general lack of subtlety. Despite the fact she did not come close to playing her best tennis, this win was Maria at her best, always fighting and never giving up. It's irrelevant her game is sparse. Some Hall of Famers, including former Australian Open champion Jim Courier, had similar, narrowly defined attack plans.
Sharapova comes ready to rumble each and every match and that's a big reason she remains a contender for this title despite her 11-year winless drought against world No. 1 Serena Williams.
Bidding to become the first qualifier to beat the former world No. 1 in a Grand Slam tournament, the 27-year-old American played inspired tennis taking a two sets to one lead.
This was not simply a case of a journeyman catching a Grand Slam champion on an off night. Smyczek seized the initiative in rallies, hit five times as many aces as Nadal (15 to 3) and hit 21 more winners (64 to 43) than the 2009 champion.
The 112th-ranked Smyczek poured his passion, energy and emotion into this match and kept taking his cracks against a sub-par Nadal. The 5'9" Milwaukee native grew up dutifully taking violin lessons to please his parents, but performed like a giant killer for much of this match.
A nervous service game cost Smyczek as Nadal scored the only break of the 62-minute decider to snatch a 6-5 lead—his first lead since winning the first set.
Smyczek said Nadal's resilience made him special.
“That was his C or D game and he found a way to win. Hats off to him,” Smyczek said. “That’s why he’s one of the best.”
Closure did not come easily. With Nadal serving for the match at 6-5, 30-0, a fan screamed out while Nadal's toss was in the air prompting a fault. Smyczek insisted the Spaniard take a first serve.
"It clearly bothered him and I thought it was the right thing to do, said Smyczek, who earned Nadal's respect for both his performance and sportsmanship.
“I think he played well, but is true that what he did at the end of the fifth is just amazing,” Nadal said of Smyczek's request for Rafa to replay the serve. “Very few players can do that after four hours something of the match.”
Battling to find the finish line, Nadal made a couple of forehand errors on two of his first three match points before finally finishing off a fierce struggle on his fourth match point.
Nadal entered this tournament conceding he was short on match play, confidence and preparation. He arrived at the final set seemingly stricken by cramping fingers on his hitting hand and appearing to be on the physical precipice several times.
A player of lesser mental, emotional and psychological strength probably would have caved many times. Nadal's courage is often strongest in the face of his most severe adversity. His body looked ready to tap out a few times, but Rafa never, ever gives up. That's why he's a warrior so inspiring to watch.