Russia’s Alina Korneeva has joined the checklist of tennis greats on the Australian Open honour roll by overcoming a number of harm hurdles to win a marathon ladies’ ultimate.
Tears flowed as ninth seed Korneeva fought again from a set down towards compatriot and shut buddy Mirra Andreeva at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, triumphing 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 7-5.
The exhausted gamers, each simply 15 years previous, embraced on the internet after an epic encounter that lasted three hours, 17 minutes.
But it was virtually over at first of the second set when Korneeva – battling leg and abdomen complaints – thought of withdrawing.
Korneeva dug deep to renew the struggle and reaped the final word reward in her first try at a grand slam.
“I couldn’t play my game and show my best … I couldn’t run a lot, but mentally it was good,” Korneeva stated.
“I’m so proud of myself because I can’t believe that I could win with these problems (injuries).
“It’s my first grand slam and I hope not final one … I’m so happy with myself and my psychological sport.”
Korneeva wasted two championship points in the 10th game of the third set – the second with a double-fault – as Andreeva broke to stay in the match at 5-5.
But Korneeva broke straight back and won her final service game to love, clinching the championship in her first attempt at a junior grand slam.
“It’s not our final battle,” Korneeva told her emotional opponent post-match.
“We could have plenty of good matches when you’ll win, when I’ll win … it was a tough battle.”
Korneeva, who idolises tennis legends Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, is the first Australian Open girls’ champion from Russia since Elizaveta Kulichkova in 2014.
She follows in the footsteps of fellow Russians Ksenia Pervak (2009) and two-times winner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (2006-07).
Korneeva also joins a girls’ title honour roll that includes Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1970) and fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka (2005), who both went on to claim the women’s crown on multiple occasions.
The ensuing boys’ final was also a thriller as No.3 seed Alexander Blockx became the first Belgian to win the title with a 6-1 2-6 7-6 (11-9) triumph over American Learner Tien.
“It was one in every of my hardest battles of my life,” Blockx said.
Blockx will hope to join an illustrious group of former boys’ title winners – including Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Zverev, Stefan Edberg and Andy Roddick – in going on to have a successful career on the men’s tour.
The 17-year-old was additionally runner-up with Brazil’s Joao Fonseca within the boys’ doubles this week.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
