AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Match of the Tournament so Far, Halep-Davis/오스트렐리아 오픈: 이번 대회 최고의 게임,할렙-데이비스

From Georgensgmund, Bayern, Germany, January 2018

Round 3 in the women's tournament at Australian Open. One of the smallest players in the draw, 

Lauren Davis, current ranking 76, was one of the protagonists of the longest and 

best contest of the women's tournament. Her opponent was top seed Simona Halep. 

Halep had to save three match points before surviving 4-6 6-4 15-13 against Davis. 

Simona was also injured since the very first round. The encounter with Davis lasted 

three hours and 45 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. The last set seemed neverending, 

as each of the players kept winning on their serve. 

The American had to call a medical timeout late in the third set because of a toe-curling problem. 

Davis said: "I think my second toes are infected. 

I was just jamming them a lot with how much I was moving around the court."

"That first match point just, I felt something and I couldn't really put any pressure 

- it was my right toe, and then it eventually was my left toe, also. "

"The trainer wrapped them really well and I was able to move fine after that."

“Was very tough match. So long. I never played a third set so long,’’ said Halep. 

“So I’m really happy that I could stay and win it. I’m almost dead."

“I have no idea how much I run, I just know that my muscles are gone. 

My ankle… I can’t feel it any more. But it was nice to win and to again 

be in the fourth round of this tournament is great.’’

Her Australian coach, Darren Cahill labelled it a “magnificent” effort from players,

 the fight extraordinary, and tenacity remarkable.

 “It was just an heroic effort from both ladies, but really proud of Simona,’’ he said.

Having never played such a lengthy match, the Romanian faces a huge challenged to 

recover for the matches to come. She had carried in a left ankle injury from her opening 

round against Australian Destanee Aiava, and have been on anti-inflammatories and pain-killers since.

“For sure they wore off by the end of the match,’’ said Cahill, who also coached

 Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi to No.1. “But she’s a tough chick.’’

Halep has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament. She has a mixed record at the 

Australian Open, being eliminated in the first round in four of her seven appearances, 

including her past two campaigns, 2016 and 2017. 

ausopen.com

heraldsun.com.au

express.co.uk

wtatennis.com