Williams Upsets Kudla; Faces Smyczek in AO Wildcard Finals

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Williams Upsets Kudla; Faces Smyczek in AO Wildcard Finals

By Erik Gudris

(December 15, 2012) -- On the brink of elimination from the Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs, Rhyne Williams found his forehand in the nick of time to secure a spot in tomorrow's finals.

Facing No. 2 seed Denis Kudla in the semifinals, Williams found himself in a close contest throughout the first set before it was Kudla who secured a late break of serve to claim the set 7-5.

Kudla broke Williams early on in the second set to take a 2-1 lead and looked poised to take the match in straight sets. Williams managed to break back, but a missed backhand from the former University of Tennessee standout gave Kudla yet another break for a 5-3 lead.

Serving for the match, Kudla found himself at 30-all. But Williams, with a pair of sizzling forehand winners, squeezed out the game and soon enough found himself level at 5-all.

The set led into a tiebreak with both men exchanging momentum until yet again Williams's forehand paid dividends to give him a mini-break lead. With a big serve and yet another forehand, Williams won the tiebreak 7-4 and pushed the match into a deciding set that would have to be played to advantage per Australian Open rules.

Early in the final set, Williams was charged with ball abuse after he found himself down break point. But after hustling to chase down a near net cord winner from Kudla that he converted into a drop shot winner of his own, Williams eventually hit an ace to close out the game 2-1.

From there, a discouraged Kudla found himself down 1-4, and tossed in an ill-timed double fault on his next service game to give Williams a commanding 5-1 lead. From there, Williams went on to secure the 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-1 comeback win.

"Luckily, the third set went kind of fast," said Williams later. "Once I got up a break, I think that helped a lot. If it would have gone 10-8 in the third set, who knows, but luckily I got on a roll, built up momentum and closed it out real quick.

Smyczek Beats Sandgren to Reach Finals

The second men's semi between top seed Tim Smyczek and Tennys Sandgren proved to be a closer contest than the scoreline would suggest.

Both players engaged in long rallies throughout, but it was Smyczek who often had the final answer with a winning shot. After breaking Sandgren to go up 3-2 in the first set, Smyczek went on a seven game run before Sandgren got his first game of the second set.

Sandgren managed to make Smyczek serve for the match at 5-2 in the second set, but it was mere formality as Smyczek went on to win 6-2, 6-2.

"We played a lot of long points. He came out and made me play a lot of balls, and that’s what I was expecting," said Smyczek afterwards. "We play pretty similar games, and I just wanted to come out and set the tone early, and show him that to beat me today he was going to have to play real well and do the things that he does well better than me. So, I set the tone early on, and I think I went on a run there for like eight games in a row or something. So I was happy with the way I played, and just kind of tried to take his legs from him, so I think that worked out well."

Smyczek now enters tomorrow's best three out of five final, per Australian Open rules, as a heavy favorite as he's beaten Williams the last two times they have met. But Williams is looking forward to the challenge.

"He’s a really good player. He’s been playing incredible," said Williams. "He qualified for the US Open, won a round, and took a title in Champaign, semis in Knoxville, so he’s been playing really well. It’s going to be tough...three out of five sets. I’ve only played one of those matches in my life, and that was this year. It’ll be fun. We’re good buddies, and I think it’ll be a good match."

The men's final will take place after the conclusion of the women's final tomorrow.

(Photo Credit: Australian Open)