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Serena Williams has come back from a set down to defeat Elina Svitolina 4-6 6-2 6-0 in the 3rd round of the Australian Open.
After conceding four out of the first five games of the match, Williams would win 15 of the next 19 games to defeat her younger opponent.
At the start of the match, it was all Svitolina, as the Ukrainian got a fantastic start to the match.
A combination of unforced errors from Williams, and winners from Svitolina, gave the 20 year old a perfect start to the match.
She broke Williams twice in the first five games to race to a 4-1 lead in the opening set.
Despite a fightback from Williams, Svitolina held her nerve, and won the first set 6-4.
After only hitting 12 winners and making 14 unforced errors in the opening set, Williams responded like a world number 1.
She tightened up her game, made more winners, and forced her opponent into mistakes.
Williams raced to a 4-0 lead, breaking the Ukrainian twice, in the early stages of the second set.
From there, Williams wasn’t troubled.
She would only concede two more games in the set to win it 6-2.
In the final set, Williams became ruthless.
She took advantage of her tiring opponent to break 3 times and win 6-0 in the final set.
It was a good comeback after losing the first set, and the momentum of the match early.
In the final two sets, Williams made 33 winners, and just 14 unforced errors.
She hardly gave her opponent an inch as she took the match away from the 20 year old.
Williams will now face Garbine Muguruza in the 4th round. That match will be on Monday.
Serena Williams continues her Australian Open campaign today with a tricky clash against up and comer, Elina Svitolina, on Rod Laver Arena. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from around 12:30pm AEDT.
For the world number 1, and the number 1 seed, it has been a good start to the tournament.
A 6-0 6-4 win over Alison Van Uytvanck in the opening round started the campaign nicely for Williams.
She then lifted another gear against Vera Zvonareva, in the second round.
In a tough match, against the former world number 2, Williams was put under pressure early against the Russian.
She was down 3-5 against the Russian, who served for the first set.
Willliams then lifted, played some incredible tennis, and won the next ten games to stun her opponent.
The 7-5 6-0 win was a sign that Williams is starting to find the form that could win her a 6th Australian Open crown.
If she plays like that during most of her matches, then she will be tough to beat.
Today she faces one of the new stars in the sport.
Elina Svitolina may not be a household name but the 20 year old is starting to climb to the top of the game.
On Monday, in the latest WTA rankings, the Ukrainian climbed to 26 in the world, her highest ranking of her career so far.
She’s also had a good start to season 2015 by making the semi-finals of the Brisbane International.
Her third round appearance today repeats her performance in 2014 when she reached the same spot and lost to Sloane Stephens.
The former French Open junior champion – in 2010 – had a great 2014, as she went from 45 in the world to 28 by the end of the year.
She also won a title at the WTA event in Baku. It was her second consecutive title after winning the same event in the capital city of Azerbaijan in 2013.
Today’s match will be tough for the Ukrainian, but she won’t be deterred by the occasion.
Her game is based around attack, and hitting plenty of winners against her opponent.
How she does that against Williams will be interesting.
The American likes to do the same and blast her opponent off the court.
Whoever does that the best will win the match.
The serve will also be important today.
Svitolina has struggled with her serve at times on the tour, and it is one of the weaknesses of her game.
She needs to serve well today to be any chance of beating Williams.
In comparison, Williams has one of the best serves in the game, and hardly gives her opponent a chance to break.
If Svitolina can’t hold serve consistently today then Williams will be too strong for her.
With weird results happening in the Australian Open so far, anything is possible in today’s match.
Svitolina has enough in her game to trouble Williams, if the world number 1 doesn’t play well.
I don’t expect that to happen.
Williams found form against Zvonareva and I expect that to continue today.
She will win in straights sets.
PREDICTION – Williams 2-0.
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