On another pleasant day of in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, the 2 players to begin hostilities on Hisense Arena were Elina Svitolina from the Ukraine and Australia's own Olivia Rogowska. Elina was ranked 47 and Olivia 169 so based on that alone, Australia would be supporting the underdog.
After the first 3 points, rankings differences appeared about right, with Olivia not in the match at all. However, she rapidly turned that on its head, and the Ukraine girl found herself struggling to hold serve. Worse, Elina lost her serve and Olivia received the flying start for which she had prayed - possibly, I don't know in fact if she ties her tennis prowess and success that closely to any religious beliefs she may or may not hold.
On this gorgeous summers day, the young Australian girl was having a wonderful time in the loving sun as it kindly shone its rays on a grateful crowd of tennis fans. Olivia shot out to a clear advantage, albeit with just the one break of serve, and Elina's occasional threats to take back the ascendency, though full of merit, fell to nought. So with the Rogowska forehand doing much of the damage, and Elina's net performance less than desirable, we had a 4-3 scoreline with Olivia about to serve for the fourth time. Ranking number 169 was for a few reasons and the eighth game presented one or two of them. Rogowska had for the most part been measured in her approach to the match, but inexplicably she lost her focus and rushed everything when there was no need - she had the baton and was conducting the orchestra as the server can. But no, she was undeniably rattled, scared by the prospect of set one success perhaps, and Elina sensed this. Well you'd be pretty stupid not to see it staring at you from the other side of the net.
The break came, admittedly after some spirited fighting from Rogowska, but games were 4-4 and bookies had changed their betting directions.
Elina pressed the advantage more obviously than a business shirt's collar and sleeves and poor Olivia, poor patronised Olivia, could only watch on as her serve was broken once more to leave the first set in the hands of the Ukraine player 6-4.
We talk about young Olivia but have to remember that she is 22 now and that she was playing a 19 year old, so Elina must be given credit for a level of maturity greater than her years in a lot of what she does with her tennis.
Turning the screws is one skill for which she has become adept. After belting some winning backhands to assist in holding the opening serve of set two, she used the same shot again to advantage, together with volley and drop shot to break the Australian serve and lead 2-0, it was curtains now the experts were predicting.
Interest was maintained however when Elina turned her ankle, contributing to her losing serve the very next game. Olivia failed to take advantage and games were 3-1 on the back of some more wicked backhands freshly imported from the Ukraine.
At 2-4, Olivia broke serve which signalled the start of a 5 game section of tennis which had us forgetting what went before. The two players thrilled us with the attack when possible and defence when required, going the extra metre to retrieve and general racquet work only occasionally displayed earlier in the contest.
Serves were held after the seventh game until at 5-6 it was Olivia to serve to stay in the match. Not to be, and as sometimes happens a double fault was the ultimate anticlimax to what had turned into a quality contest between two of the lesser known players on tour.
Elina Svitolina - remember that name because she is promising big things - won this second round match 6-4 7-5
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