The second round at Wimbledon 2015 continues this evening when Australian Casey Dellacqua takes on 17th seed from the Ukraine Elina Svitolina in what should prove to be an interesting match up.
Join The Roar from around 10:30pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary of this match following the all Aussie duel between Sam Groth and James Duckworth on court 17.
In the first round Dellacqua recorded a powerful victory in straight sets, only dropping four games. It was a dominant display from Dellacqua. She served strongly and never let her opponent, Tamira Paszek, into the match.
Her second-round match will be against a much higher-ranked opponent in 17th seed Elina Svitolina, and she will have to play another crushing game to have a chance of moving into the third round.
Svitolina had a first round match up against Misaki Doi from Japan and was taken all the way to three sets. It wasn’t a dominating performance from a much higher-ranked player and she will probably need to improve from that performance when she takes on Dellacqua, particularly if she plays like she did in the first round of the greatest grand slam of them all.
In saying that, Dellacqua was in less than impressive form leading up to Wimbledon, losing a whole series of games on grass courts that she should have realistically been winning. So it will be interesting now to see how she performs as she comes up against a much stronger opponent. The fanatics will most certainly be court side for this one as well, with the Groth versus Duckworth game before it. That could become a factor.
The pair have a vast difference in levels of Wimbledon experience with Svitolina never getting herself out of the first round in two attempts whilst Dellacqua is a former quarter finalist in the event.
Svitolina, despite this, is still the 17th seed and a part of this was because of a quarter final appearance at the French Open earlier in the year.
Svitolina, however, has had almost non existent form in between the end of her French Open campaign and the beginning of her Wimbledon campaign only playing in the one game which came in Eastbourne against Heather Watson, ranked 59th in the world. She went down in three sets in that one and doesn’t look to be in the greatest form after taking three sets to finish Doi off in her first round match.
Svitolina’s worst surface is grass with under a 50% winning percentage throughout her career.
Prediction: Svitolina is not in the greatest of form and Dellacqua after the first round looks to be having all guns blazing. I’m going to go for the upset here.
Dellacqua in three sets.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from around 10:30pm (AEST) or after the Groth v Duckworth game and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for that Michael... Again apologies I couldn't continue Great win for Dellacqua. She now takes on Radwanska on Saturday night in the third round
Michael
Guest
32 winners for Casey proved to be too much for Elina Svitolina who could only manage 11. Hopefully Casey can come out firing against Agnieszka on Saturday night and give her a run for her money. Goodnight and thanks to Scott for the commentary earlier on!
Michael
Guest
A wide serve does the trick with Svitolina finding the net on the return. CASEY DELLACQUA WINS 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 TO PROGRESS TO THE THIRD ROUND!! She'll face World Number 13 Anieszka Radwanska who knocked out Ajla Tomljanovic earlier today.
Michael
Guest
Overhead smash at the net sets up her first match point. C'mon Casey!
Michael
Guest
Another break point saved but Casey finds the net again to allow another. Saves once more. 40-40.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina finds the net off a great Dellacqua serve and its back to deuce.
Michael
Guest
30-15 becomes 30-40 and Casey still has some work to do here. Break point.
Michael
Guest
30-15 after a long rally with both ladies playing some great tennis.
Michael
Guest
30-0 very quickly here.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina gets it back to deuce but Casey manages to create another break point opportunity. AND SHE TAKES IT! Dellacqua leads 5-3 and will serve for the match.
Michael
Guest
Dellacqua taking command with a couple of strong winners. 15-40.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina finds the net once and Casey hits another winner to easily hold to love. Dellacqua leads 4-3.
Michael
Guest
Casey mixing power with a feather touch to make it 30-0 with no trouble.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina gets it to 40-0 after a couple of Dellacqua errors and win the game to bring it to 3-3 in the 2nd.
Michael
Guest
Dellacqua still the favourite in this match after taking the 1st set 7-6 after being broken in the first game of the match.
Michael
Guest
And she is broken after another error - this time hitting a backhand long. Dellacqua leads 3-2 on serve.
Michael
Guest
Casey in a bit of trouble facing 2 break points at 15-40.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina with her 3rd double fault for the match to bring up break point for Casey which she converts after a long error from Svitolina. Dellacqua leads 3-1.
Michael
Guest
Svitolina has a game point but we're back to deuce.
Michael
Guest
Huge bit of luck for Casey as she clips the net and the ball trickles over with Svitolina unable to reach the ball. Winner from Svitolina brings it back to deuce but another forehand winner down the line by Casey brings up another break point. 40-A