Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open, Women's Main Draw - Melbourne, Australia - Outdoor, Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open, Women's Main Draw - Melbourne, Australia - Outdoor, Hard

emmsie69 · Top national player

Blimey, what a start

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Is she playing well or is SLoane who is very rusty, she hasnt played since October - not watching so genuine ask!!

PaulM · Tennis legend

Wow. Sloane is slow moving around but her balls are just sitting right up into Emma's hitting zone. Our kid isn't playing with the anxiety we've seen on court in her Tour matches since New York. Looks absolutely zoned in.

brittak · Satellite level

JonH comes home wrote:
Is she playing well or is SLoane who is very rusty, she hasnt played since October - not watching so genuine ask!!

Bit of both really.

First set in the bag 6-0 and only dropped 4 points. Lovely start - hope Emma can keep this up.

Pancho P · Lower Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
Is she playing well or is SLoane who is very rusty, she hasnt played since October - not watching so genuine ask!!

As usual with these things maybe a bit of both, but Emma s hit some wonderful ground strokes.... will it last ?

Elegant Point · Satellite level

At least rubbishy Amazon Prime Discovrt showing Emmas match. What a fantastic start!!!! Sloane seems to be allowing Emma so much time - complete contrast to Emmas match with Elena R in Sydney where Emma seemed to be under pressure the whole time.

Go Emma!!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Is she playing well or is SLoane who is very rusty, she hasnt played since October - not watching so genuine ask!!

First half of first set - Sloane barely made a ball

Second half she played a bit better and Emma had to do a bit more

But more Sloane, to be honest

Which is not a criticism of Emma !

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Danka Kovinic awaits in the 2nd round

PaulM · Tennis legend

Back to back doubles give Sloane the break on her 5th break point. Emma did have game points which would probably have been enough to get Sloane to check out. But the American is still in this now.

the addict · Tennis legend

More errors from Sloane and it's back on serve *2-2

PaulM · Tennis legend

3 really bad errors from Emma though from game point up

2-3*

the addict · Tennis legend

Emma missing the lines, and overtakes Sloane on UFE at 15-14 for the set.
2-3*

PaulM · Tennis legend

A lot of inexperience here still, she's playing Sloane back into this one quite markedly with how she's hitting and moving the ball. Stephens picking up confidence and looking the better player now.

*2-4

PaulM · Tennis legend

Sloane breaks again.

2-5*

That first game of this set was so crucial, had to put the foot down and slam the door.