The run of local comeback queen Casey Dellacqua at Australian Open 2010 has come to an end on Saturday afternoon at the hands of multiple major winner Venus Williams.
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With 15,000 vocal fans urging her on inside Rod Laver Arena and thousands more watching on the big screens outside, the Australian wildcard pushed Williams to the limit in the second set before succumbing 6-1 7-6(4) in a little under two hours.
Despite the loss, the West Australian said she had plenty of reasons to feel positive.
“Honestly, 11 months right after my shoulder surgery, I wasn't sure where I was going to be at or how I was going to go or do, really,” she said.
“I'm stoked with where I'm at. Obviously I'm improving every day and I've got a long way to go to be playing my best tennis. It's nice knowing I can compete and hold my own with girls like that after only really hitting solid tennis balls for the last six or so weeks.”
Williams was full of praise for her opponent. “I think she played really well in the second set,” she said.
“I had a lot of chances to go up breaks at 4-1 or 5-2, and she just hung in there and kept playing tough, which, you know, that kind of play and experience will really serve her well throughout the year and her career.”
Dellacqua took to the court without looking overawed by her illustrious opponent, challenging Williams on serve in the opening game and bringing up a break point before the American prevailed.
After holding serve in the following game with a scorching backhand winner down the line, she again pushed the No. 6 seed hard on serve but could not gain the break.
Williams capitalised on a sloppy fourth game from the Australian, two double faults helping her to a 15-40 lead. The American punished a limp second serve with a backhand winner to secure the first break of the match and lead 3-1.
Dellacqua had more three chances to break in the fifth game, but could not convert. Williams, renowned as a big-match player who brings out her best when under pressure, lived up to her reputation by coming up with big serves and forehands to hit her way out of trouble and hold serve.
Williams clinched her second break of the set to lead 5-1, and despite Dellacqua saving a bundle of set points and gaining a break point of her own in the seventh game, she frustratingly could not capitalise, and Williams wrapped up the set with an un-returnable serve.
The Australian began the second set promisingly, routinely holding serve. In the next game she again brought up break point but failed to convert, missing a return beyond the baseline.
A torrid third game saw Williams threaten to pull away, yet Dellacqua withstood Williams’ monstrous returns and saved three break points to hold for a 2-1 lead.
Williams went up a gear in the fifth game, cranking some heavy winners and breaking serve when the Australian erred on her forehand. Consolidating the break to lead 4-2, Williams appeared to have it all wrapped up when she gained another break point in the following game.
However, Dellacqua decided that she was not ready to depart Rod Laver Arena, digging out a crucial service hold and breaking back to level proceedings in the eighth game. The next two games went on serve, and the set was poised at 5-5.
Having ignited the capacity crowd, Dellacqua rode the wave of support to recover from 0-40 – and almost certain oblivion – and save a total of five break points to move ahead 6-5.
Responding like a champion, Venus held to love and played rock-solid tennis in the ensuing tie-break, quickly advancing to a 6-1 lead and one point from a fourth round berth. Dellacqua continued to fight and saved three match points, but an ace from Williams sealed the match in one hour and 47 minutes.
The sixth seed will next face Italian Francesca Schiavone, a straight-sets winner over 10th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Fast facts
- Williams hit 31 winners to Dellacqua’s 14.
- Williams served seven aces to the Aussie’s zero.
- Dellacqua was only able to convert one of eight break point chances.
- Williams approached the net on 22 occasions.
- Williams’ fastest serve was clocked at 196km/h.
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