Second seed Kirsten Flipkens had to battle hard to overcome Australian wildcard Storm Sanders in the second round today, fighting back from a first set loss and an injury scare to prevail.
The world no.19 from Belgium needed six match points to record a 4-6 7-6(3) 7-6(5) win in a two hour and 36 minutes marathon on centre court.
The 19 year-old Australian, playing in her first WTA main draw and against a top 20 player for the first time, was not intimidated by the occasion. She took the first set after recovering from an early break.
Flipkens lifted her level early in the second set, breaking in the opening game. She held the advantage until 5-4, but was broken when serving for the set.
Sanders then got broken to love, providing Flipkens with a second opportunity to serve for the set. But again the young Australian found away back into the set, breaking back to push it into a tiebreaker.
Flipkens held her nerve to take the tiebreak, pushing the match into a deciding set.
The second seed twice got ahead by a break in the third set and threatened to be taking control of the match, but each time Sanders was able to level the score.
The Belgian player rolled her left ankle at 4-2 and required a trainer. She returned to drop her serve, initially struggling with her movement around the court.
Sanders had a break point opportunity to snare a 5-4 lead and serve for the match, but Flipkens, whose movement began to improve, held tough to hold.
The 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist had three match points on Sanders’ serve in the next game, but could not convert. The Australian continued to play aggressive tennis and had a large crowd on the edge of their seats.
Sanders saved a fourth match point at 5-6 and was able to push the match into a deciding tiebreak.
Points went on serve for the first six points of the tiebreak, until Flipkens was able to sneak ahead. Sanders saved a fifth match point, but couldn’t save a sixth.
“It was a really tough match today,” a relieved Flipkens said. “I didn’t know Storm, I just saw her play a couple of games yesterday. I thought she might have had more difficulties with my slice but she handled it very good. All credit to her, she is an amazing talent.”
Flipkens will now play either compatriot Yanina Wickmayer or Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza in the quarter-finals tomorrow. They play their second round match later tonight.
“It’s going to be a tough match again. I saw Muguruza play in Auckland last week and she was playing really good and Yanina is always a tough player to play against,” Flipkens said.
Flipkens had treatment on her ankle after the match and is hopeful it will be fine for her quarter-final.
“I didn’t twist my ankle, I slipped in my shoe,” she explained. “We will have to see how I wake up tomorrow and how it feels.”