the Sun had long since gone down behind Melbourne’s skyscrapers, but still drives the sweat down the small of 15,000 spectators at Rod Laver Arena and got the clothes to adhere.
the humidity was high, the temperature snuck still over 30 degrees, and most of the exchanged enough at a time of their quiet wonder with the person sitting next to them: ‘How can they keep running down there?’
But it did the Danish Caroline Wozniacki and Romanian Simona Halep, the world number one and two, who not only played on the ranglistens the first place but also each of their first grand slam. In the third finaleforsøg.
Seen in this light was the year’s first grand slam final in advance the perfect ones. But it was also because the two along the way got the best out of each other in an incredibly close and almost inevitable tresætter. They ran the most impossible balls up and continued to beat contra in a bid to get a skaktræk front.
It was the best women’s final in years.
Small three hours after the dane’s initial serv and after a physiotherapy treatment to each, it was the Romanian, who threw the ball in the air at the post 6-7, 6-3, 4-5, 30-30.
Caroline was two balls from the redemption of the dream, she publicly formulated as 11-year-old. As for her 67 weeks long period of ranglistens first place in 2010 and 2011 had ridden her like a mare. And as she twice had the game’s finale, though, with defeats to Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams.
Two balls from the ultimate chapter to his career already so impressive story: To win a grand slam.
Then followed a duel, as longtime observers felt, almost summed up the same career. For Wozniacki was the drive around from side to side, while she defensively skillfully and game fighting had returned the balls with something that looked like the last drops in the tank.
On the seventh of them, she was sent far down the pitch but was still found the energy to twist the upper body enough for the powerful to whack his double backhand across the field, with an almost naturstridigt sharp angle.
In exactly the sequence she found at the same time, the courage to bet offensively at a crucial time in a big finale.
the Battle opened the track and sent Halep in the defensive, and on his eighth ball entered Wozniacki back in the line and closed the duel.
Then there was the match point. The Romanian beat an easy backhand in the net, the dane threw his racquet in the air, and fell on his back in a short krampegråd.
the Third time wasn’t a succes, the dream had been fulfilled, and shortly after presented the Billie Jean King her the big trophy, the Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup, with the words: ‘Never give up. Awesome.’
Denmark’s first grand slam winner in singles was at the same time a check for 20 million dollars, but it was the reward for her long-standing fight, which was the largest.
It also saw reflected in her father and coach, Piotr She expressed out of the box, where his eyes behind the fists beamed with pride. It was also his – and thus their non – dream.
the Courage to be the may offensive Caroline – Wozniacki 2.0 – found she almost in spite, as she as the world number 74, during the US Open in 2016 after a skadeplaget season, behind 0-4 against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round.
from Here, you sped up the elevator to the top, and when she in October 2017 for the first time, beat Venus Williams, also a change in the WTA’s sæsonfinale, she was at the same time the last drop of life-giving faith that the great battles could be won by to show courage.
In the Australian Open second round she was down 1-5, 15-40 in the kroatens Jana Fetts serv. Fett was a few centimeters from making an ace on his first match point.
Since she played the tournament ’on the money’, as she called it with a casino-expression, before she is ten days later stood with the largest gain.
——— SPLIT ELEMENT ———
Caroline Wozniacki were both happy, relieved, proud and tired, when she, along with the trophy and took the time of press. Photo: AP
Words and feelings, after the final
After the awards ceremony, sejrstaler, various photoshoots and tv interviews was the midnight, before the Caroline Wozniacki met the writer of the press. Here, she could tell that she had been so busy that she had not been able to answer a call from his mother.
She told how emotional and draining the finals had been, physically as well as mentally.
– eventually, it was just about who wanted it the most and who had the last luck with them. When I follow the last ball, I think: ‘Please, go in the net.’ When it did, it was a fantastic feeling. It was a redemption.
– When I have achieved so much else in my career and beaten all the other players, and yes, won everything else, so it is here the last, was missing, she said with the cup and a glass of champagne by his side.
She remembered to acknowledge his father, and then she took home the Crown Plaza to try to fall asleep. It was not managed quite well before she Sunday morning was to sail on the lake in the botanical gardens wearing trophy and the vindersmil. Here fumbled she is still a little:
– There is so many thoughts around in my head that I should probably have a day for myself to understand it all.
Oddly enough, played the two later masters doubles together at the so-called Kids Day prior to the tournament beginning. Photo: AP
on Sunday evening won the Roger Federer herretitlen, and afterwards he said to Ekstra Bladet on caroline’s triumph:
– To win the first grand slam is definitely something special. I’m quite sure that she is totally up in the clouds now, and it should she also be.
– You should celebrate the first, as it was the last. And it should not be construed negatively. But you have no idea whether you will ever experience the same emotions again.
Caroline was on a short familievisit in Copenhagen, before she a few days later, stood on the track again. In icy St petersburg. Petersburg.
In tennis awaits there is always a tournament more, but there is one she will never forget.
caroline’s road to the triumph
1.round: Mihaela Buzarnescu (Romania), 6-2, 6-3
2. round: Jana Fett (Croatia), 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. round: Kiki Bertens (Netherlands), 6-4, 6-3
4. round: Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 6-3, 6-0
Quarter-final: Carla Suárez Navarro (Spain), 6-0, 6-7, 6-2
semi final: Elise Mertens (Belgium) 6-3, 7-6
Final: Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
ranking points: 2000
Prize money: 3.034.944 dollars (well over 20 million. dollars)
