Australia’s Casey Dellacqua will be looking to join Sam Stosur in the third round when she faces 23rd seed, Lucie Safarova, tonight at the French Open.
Join us for on The Roar live scores and commentary from 8:30pm AEST.
Dellacqua has been Australia’s best performing player of 2014.
Her results and record this year are better than any Australian player in either the WTA or the ATP.
She would be leading the Newcombe Medal at the moment and is every chance to win it for the first time.
Her fantastic year started at the Australian Open when she replicated her fourth round appearance she had in 2008.
She then made the quarter finals at Indian Wells and the Round of 32 at Miami.
Dellacqua’s record is 17-8 for the season and her form has her in the top 50 for the first time since 2008.
Currently at 48 in the rankings, the Western Australian has climbed 82 spots in the world since the start of the year.
In the first round at Roland Garros she continued her impressive form with a win over Lourdes Dominguez-Lino.
It was just the second time she won in the first round at Roland Garros.
The other time was in 2008 when she made the third round.
Dellacqua will be looking to repeat that effort with a win against Lucie Safarova tonight.
Safarova – who made the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2007 – defeated Mandy Minella in straight sets to progress to Round 2 with ease.
It will be a tough assignment for Dellacqua but her confidence will be high after her performances this year.
The two have never faced each other before in a competitive match and it will all be about who can make their opponent move more in the contest.
Neither player has huge power in their game and rely on hitting the ball across the court to move their opponents out of position.
Safarova has been in good form on clay and made the quarter finals in Charleston and the third round at Madrid.
She is the favourite for the match but it will be closer than a lot of people think.
Dellacqua is every chance to win the match and I expect the contest to go to three sets.
My prediction is Dellacqua in three sets but this will be a close encounter.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is it from me in the live blog. Thanks for joining me in the match between Casey Dellacqua and Lucie Safarova.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
MATCH STATS: 1st Serve: 58/95 Safarova, 42/78 Dellacqua Points won on 1st serve: 36/58 Safarova, 24/42 Dellacqua Winners: 32 Safarova, 16 Dellacqua Unforced Errors: 35 Safarova, 40 Dellacqua Break Points: 7/12 Safarova, 4/11 Dellacqua
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Lucie Safarova defeats Casey Dellacqua 6-1 5-7 6-3 in the 2nd round of the French Open. A weird match full of momentum shifts throughout. Safarova won 11 of the first 14 games. Dellacqua then won the next 5 games to take the second set. Safarova won 4 of the last 5 games to win the match. Unlucky for Dellacqua but Safarova was good tonight.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova survives a break point as she leads 5-3 in the final set. The world number 24 is one game away from the third round.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova consolidates the break by holding serve in the 6th game of the final set. Dellacqua also holds serve and is now down 4-3. Safarova is still up a break.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua faces trouble in the fifth game of the final set as Safarova breaks. The 23rd seed leads 3-2 and Dellacqua has to fight back again like in the 2nd set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua and Safarova hold serve with ease with the Australian leading 2-1. Neither player has been troubled so far in the set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua holds serve and leads 1-0 in the final set. Good start to the set from her.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
2ND SET STATS: 1ST SERVE: Safarova 25/44, Dellacqua 18/32 POINTS WON ON 1st SERVE: Safarova 12/25, Dellacqua 11/18 WINNERS: Safarova 14, Dellacqua 10 UNFORCED ERRORS: Safarova 17, Dellacqua 14 BREAK POINT CHANCES: Safarova 3/4, Dellacqua 4/9 Safarova made 15 unforced errors in the last 9 games. Dellacqua made 9 but the Aussie also hit 14 winners. Amazing comeback.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
I see it but I don't believe it. Casey Dellacqua takes the second set 7-5 against Lucie Safarova. Down 5-2, and 30-0, and almost gone from the tournament, Dellacqua pulled off an incredible comeback. A combination of winners from Dellacqua, and unforced errors from Safarova, turned the set on its head. Unbelievable match so far.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua now leads 6-5 and has a lead in a set for the first time in the match. Her comeback has been incredible. The grit, determination and use of anger in the right way has been outstanding. It will be interesting to see what Safarova's mindset is like. This is a huge game.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Incredible comeback by Dellacqua. She breaks again and levels the second set at 5-5. Down 5-2 and 30-0 in the second set the Australian has now broken twice. Safarova has started to produce more unforced errors. Now up to 14 in the set and is beating Dellacqua with 13.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua then holds serve comfortably and it is now 5-4 to Safarova. The 23rd seed will have a second chance to serve for the match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Casey gets one of the breaks back and is now down 5-3. Down 30-15, Dellacqua fought back well, and was able to break. Can she gain momentum and come back?
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
The lost opportunity is costly as Safarova breaks again. She leads 5-2 and will serve for the match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua has four break points to level at 3-3 but Safarova saves them all. The 23rd seed now leads 4-2 in the second set. That could be the match if Casey's confidence is shot. She's played well enough in the set - after going down 2-0 - to be level.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
All the hard work by Dellacqua, to break back, is lost as Safarova breaks again. She leads 3-2 and Casey needs to do some more work to get back into the set. She has been behind for the whole match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Impressive from Dellacqua as she breaks back. She hit three winners in the game to break for the first time in the match. This next service game become important.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Dellacqua holds serve and is on the board in the second set. She did have to save a break point but Dellacqua didn't go down a double break. Safarova leads 2-1. In this set, Safarova has made 5 winners and 2 unforced errors. Casey is at 0 winners and 5 unforced errors. She just can't get a look in and Safarova his hitting well.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova holds serve to love and races to a 2-0 lead. She has won the last 10 points in the match. Casey needs to hold serve in this game to stay in the match.