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By Chris Oddo/ Wednesday, January 15, 2014
It was a long, difficult road, but Maria Sharapova relied
on her fierce determination to get by Italian Karin Knapp,
6-3, 4-6, 10-8 on Day 4.
Photo Source: Corleve
Maria Sharapova’s reputation as one of
the greatest fighters in women’s tennis has never been in
question, but on Day 4, under the blazing sun in Melbourne,
there were questions about Sharapova’s place in the 2014
Australian Open draw.
Not anymore.
The Russian prevailed a grueling affair against an inspired
Karin Knapp, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8, when the
Italian’s last ditch backhand sailed long at the 3:29 mark.
“It’s tough for both of us,” she said. “We fought as hard as we
could.”
Sharapova, seeded third, will face Frenchwoman Alize
Cornet in the third round.
“She played some of the best tennis that I’d seen her play,”
said Sharapova of Knapp, the World No. 44. “I knew that if I
wanted to win this match I just had to win a few more points.”
After failing to convert match points against late in the third
set, tension began to build as the elapsed time of the deciding
set stretched over 100 minutes.
Sharapova, who served for the match at 5-4, stayed with Knapp
long enough despite her serving struggles to earn another
chance at 9-8. Despite pouring in the final three of her 12
double faults on the day in that final game, Sharapova
survived.
Like the entirety of this three hour and twenty-nine minute
dogfight, the final game of the 115-minute third set was not
easy. Sharapova would face a break point, which she saved with
a remarkably clutch backhand down the line, then the Russian
finally sealed the win it as Knapp’s backhand sailed long on
match point.
Simona Halep, Dominika
Cibulkova and Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova also advanced in afternoon action on
Day 4.
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