OT: Australian Tennis Open

[eebmg]

Osaka had triple championship pt on Kvitova's serve (up 5-3) and blew it. She is an emotional wreck and lost 4 straight games. She has to find a way to regroup. You can't show such negative emotions.

Edit. Osaka wins the 3rd set 6-4. She is a beautiful player. She has every shot in the book except a net game (and second serve) but she hits the ball so well and so hard, it is really almost impossible to get her up into the net. This was the turning point when she went from a very talented human player into an automaton. No emotions at all in set 3. Her coach she plays best when calm. Have to listen to your coach.

Oh no. Her emotions are gone. She is not even smiling.

 

[iri10]

Not bad, Naomi. Summoned up a new reserve of nerves, and served it out. Winning her first two Majors back to back! Hasn't happened since Capriati, I believe.

 

[VAMike23]

Osaka did regroup ...and won ! 6-4 in the third

 

[eebmg]

Osaka's post match presser.




She is something else. She is such an enigma

 

[Beemer]

Thankfully she didn't have to endure the nonsense she had to put up with at the US Open last year.

 

[VAMike23]

I love how , on her forehand, she gets down SO low when returning a deep, hard groundstroke and just SMACKS that ball off the rise, using the pace of opponent’s good shot against her. She has impeccable timing because often she is able to not only take quality shots off the rise , she also redirects them onto aggressive angles. She’s something !

 

[wire chief]

Nonetheless, happy for Petra's progress.

 

[VAMike23]

Nonetheless, happy for Petra's progress.

Not following tennis nearly as closely as i did years ago, I was unaware of the nightmarish experience she went through and the aftermath with the trauma to the left hand. I was not prepared when I saw the “before” photo of her hand right after the attack. To think that she could EVER play high level tennis again with that hand is almost beyond belief to me. That she made it through to this match , a grand slam final, fighting tooth and nail in split sets is miraculous and is also a testament to both her talent and her strength of will. Simply amazing. Kudos to her.