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Olivia Rogowska vs Nicole Gibbs: 2015 Australian Open live scores, blog

20th January, 2015
Start: 4:30pm
Head to head: Never met
Betting: Rogowska 2.25 Gibbs 1.57
TV: Check local guides. It will be online on 7sport.com.au
Roar Guru
20th January, 2015
56

Match result:

Olivia Rogowska became the fourth Australian female wildcard to be eliminated from the Australian Open after a 6-4 6-1 loss to Nicole Gibbs on Show Court Two.

In one of the most heartbreaking press conferences I’ve been to, Rogowska was upset after her straight sets loss to Gibbs.

Fighting back tears the young Australian was at a loss as to why she played poorly today.

“I’m really disappointed, I have been hitting really well in practice, and had a productive off-season.”

“I completely fell apart today and wasn’t mentally there.”

After starting well, by breaking Gibbs in the opening game and leading 2-0, Rogowska would lose 12 of the next 15 games to lose the match.

44 unforced errors, and just 7 points won on her second serve, ultimately hurt Rogowska dearly in the match.

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“I need to reassess now.”

“It’s a really up and down sport. [I need to] bounce back the best I can after a tough loss,” she added.

Rogowska is scheduled to play at the $50,000 events in Burnie and Launceston and will be hoping to comeback at events she has done well at.

“I love going back to Tassie. I have had some really good memories from Launceston [last year when I won]. I played well on those courts.”

“[I’m going to have] to go back to the drawing board, and try to remember what I did in the past, and get positives from that.”

“I need to keep the self belief.”

Rogowska will now fall outside of the top 150 after the loss. She was as high as 102 in the middle of last year and will be looking to return there sooner, rather than later.

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Nicole Gibbs will now face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the 2nd round.

Match preview:

Olivia Rogowska will be looking for her third win at the Australian Open when she takes on Nicole Gibbs on Show Court 2 today in the first round. Join The Roar for live blog of the match from around 4:30pm AEDT.

After defeating Mariana Duque Marino last year to make the second round, Rogowska has the opportunity to repeat that performance against Nicole Gibbs today.

The Australian had a successful 2014, winning two titles on the women’s Challenger circuit. While the top 100 ranking was elusive for her again, as she rose to a career high ranking of 102, the Aussie still played some great tennis last year.

Her opponent for today, Nicole Gibbs, also had a breakout 2014 as she cracked the top 100 for the first time. A win at the 50,000 Carson event, and a quarter final appearance in Seoul, moved the American 92 spots in the rankings last year.

This is a match between two similar players, who are around the same ranking. They both have struggled for form so far in 2015.

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Rogowska was a first round loser in qualifying for Brisbane before losing her opening round match to Roberta Vinci at the Hobart International.

Gibbs, after losing in the first round of qualifying for the Auckland International, was beaten 6-0 6-0 as a lucky loser in the Sydney International. How the American deals with that loss, which was the first 6-0 6-0 loss of her career, will be fascinating.

If she struggles with it, then Rogowska can pounce, win a set, and take all the momentum in the match. If Gibbs comes out with a vengeance, and an aim to right the wrong, then Rogowska will need to be solid early to keep up.

The first few games of this match will be critical to the outcome of the contest. The Australian needs to start well today and win the opening set.

This match will be dominated by baseline rallies as both girls play around that area of the court. Whoever controls that, and hits more winners, will go on to win the match.

I see this as a genuine 50/50 match. Rogowska can win the match today and I expect her to push the encounter to three sets.

With the crowd behind her as well, she is a genuine chance. I’m going to predict Gibbs though to just defeat the Australian.

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Her experience at the WTA events at the end of 2014 will count for something today. When the pressure moments occur, I expect Gibbs to win those crucial points to decide the match.

Prediction: Nicole Gibbs 2-1

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