By Chris Oddo | Thursday January 24 2018
Simona Halep is going to need a long rest after the 2018 Australian Open but the World No.1 is happy that she’ll have one more chance to tire herself out before the fortnight is over.
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Halep saved two match points and converted her fourth to defeat a resurgent Angelique Kerber, 6-3, 4-6, 9-7, and reach her first Australian Open final.
“I decided after I twisted my ankle that I will fight for every ball, I will go to the end, I will give everything this tournament and then I will rest,” she told Rennae Stubbs on court after the match. “So now I will have big rest after this tournament.”
Halep has twice faced match point and advanced in Melbourne, and she’s done it all after badly turning her ankle in her first-round match. Many believed that the injury might prove to be too much for Halep but she has soldiered on valiantly, winning over Lauren Davis 15-13 in the third set of a three hour and 44-minute third-round thriller before outdueling Kerber in two hours and 20 minutes today.
It looked like it might be a lopsided contest when Halep raced to a 5-0 lead in the opener, but Kerber quickly announced herself by winning the next three games. Even though she didn’t take the set she used the momentum and rallied to capture the second set by winning the final three games.
The decider was a seesaw battle that featured elevated shotmaking, grueling rallies and intense drama and tension. Halep fell behind by a break in the opening game but regained it immediately. The top-seeded Romanain then reeled off two games to lead 5-3 but Kerber broke and then saved two match point while serving in the ninth game to get to 5-5.
Kerber served for the match at 6-5, but it was Halep’s turn to come through in the clutch. She saved a pair of match points and won four straight points from 15-40 to level at 6-all.
After three more games went with serve, Halep earned two more match points against Kerber in the 16th game. She converted the second when a Kerber backhand drifted long to end a courageous memorable affair.
Halep finished with 50 winners, 28 of which came in the third set—the Romanian had to be aggressive because Kerber tracked most everything into the corners, and often times brought balls back with interest.
Halep also did a fantastic job of breaking Kerber’s serve, converting 9 of 21 opportunities. Though Kerber didn’t dominate on the return side as much, she was opportunistic and converted all seven break points she saw.
The drama of the third set, with both players saving match points and taking part in long, grueling rallies that kept fans on the edge of their seats, surely qualifies this match as an instant classic, even if the first two sets were at times scratchy.
“I tried to be very calm but today was like a rollercoaster, up and down,” said Halep. “I didn’t give up—not even a ball—and this is what matters, because if you don’t give up you can win the match in the end. So I did it very well and I’m really proud of myself, actually.”
Halep will advance to face No.2-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in a battle of players that have saved match points to reach the final. Each will bid for their first major title, and the winner will claim the No.1 ranking.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” said Halep. “When I played the final in French Open I said ‘If I will be in the same situation I will give my best and I will be more courageous.’ Next round I just want to give my best, to believe that I have the chance to win and not think about the title. If it’s going to come, it’s going to come.”