05-26-2022, 12:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-26-2022, 12:41 PM by ColoradoTree.)
A long rally ends with a Ma forehand into the net. 0-15. Again, just not using the angles, and whether she's playing not to lose at this point or she doesn't feel confident in her strokes, she's got a player who's at least a little hampered by her thigh and she's not taking advantage by moving her around the court.
After a decent rally, Rencheli sends a forehand just long and Ma is quick to call it. 15-15.
Ma sends a slice forehand long. 15-30. Rencheli is playing aggressively now with her back against the wall. Ma seems content to respond.
After another long rally, Rencheli hits it just long again. 30-30.
Another long rally, and Rencheli hits the baseline when Ma had held off, thinking it was going long. 30-40.
A quick rally this time ends when Rencheli hits a backhand into the net. Deciding point.
Another long rally but Rencheli calls one wide and while I couldn't tell for sure (it was close), the chair umpire remains silent and it's now 5-5. Despite breaking Rencheli three times this set, it's tied up. Ugh.
Two days in a row, Ma is up a set and a break, and two days in a row, she gives it up. Whether she closes it out soon or not, the failure to finish when she has someone on the ropes is concerning.
Just now, at 30-15 on Rencheli's serve, Rencheli hit a weak, flat second serve and rather than pounce on it, Ma just slowly hit it back like they were warming up. Anyway, Rencheli holds, and Ma will serve to force a tiebreaker. Sigh.
Ma's first serve has deserted her, but she still pulled out the hold on 40-30. 6-6, Rencheli seemed to tweak something lunging for a ball there, and it'll be a tiebreaker for the second set.
Rencheli's serve has been the weakest part of her game today, and yet somehow Ma keeps hitting routine ground strokes that she often sails long rather than attacking it with pace. Frustrating. 1-0 Rencheli. Then 2-0 as Ma gives up a mini break by misplaying a volley. A service winner makes it 2-1.
3-1 Rencheli as Ma continues to hit it to Rencheli's backhand, even though her forehand has been the objectively weaker stroke today. Maddening. Such tentative tennis from Ma in this set. And then she sails a backhand long, and it's 4-1. Another mishit forehand from Ma and it's 5-1 as they change ends. Rencheli two points away from forcing a third set. Now 5-2 as Rencheli has two serves needing two points.
Now 5-3 as Rencheli sends a forehand long. ATTACK HER FOREHAND, PLEASE.
She does not. 6-3 Rencheli and Ma's up against it now.
Service winner to cut it to 6-4. And then a nifty shot to force Rencheli in no-man's land, and it's 6-5. Rencheli with a serve for the set here. But Rencheli dumps a half-overhead/volley into the net and they're tied at 6-6 as they change ends!
After another good, long rally (really the hallmark of this match), Rencheli sprays a backhand wide and Ma will serve for it now, up 7-6!
After a decent rally, Rencheli sends a forehand just long and Ma is quick to call it. 15-15.
Ma sends a slice forehand long. 15-30. Rencheli is playing aggressively now with her back against the wall. Ma seems content to respond.
After another long rally, Rencheli hits it just long again. 30-30.
Another long rally, and Rencheli hits the baseline when Ma had held off, thinking it was going long. 30-40.
A quick rally this time ends when Rencheli hits a backhand into the net. Deciding point.
Another long rally but Rencheli calls one wide and while I couldn't tell for sure (it was close), the chair umpire remains silent and it's now 5-5. Despite breaking Rencheli three times this set, it's tied up. Ugh.
Two days in a row, Ma is up a set and a break, and two days in a row, she gives it up. Whether she closes it out soon or not, the failure to finish when she has someone on the ropes is concerning.
Just now, at 30-15 on Rencheli's serve, Rencheli hit a weak, flat second serve and rather than pounce on it, Ma just slowly hit it back like they were warming up. Anyway, Rencheli holds, and Ma will serve to force a tiebreaker. Sigh.
Ma's first serve has deserted her, but she still pulled out the hold on 40-30. 6-6, Rencheli seemed to tweak something lunging for a ball there, and it'll be a tiebreaker for the second set.
Rencheli's serve has been the weakest part of her game today, and yet somehow Ma keeps hitting routine ground strokes that she often sails long rather than attacking it with pace. Frustrating. 1-0 Rencheli. Then 2-0 as Ma gives up a mini break by misplaying a volley. A service winner makes it 2-1.
3-1 Rencheli as Ma continues to hit it to Rencheli's backhand, even though her forehand has been the objectively weaker stroke today. Maddening. Such tentative tennis from Ma in this set. And then she sails a backhand long, and it's 4-1. Another mishit forehand from Ma and it's 5-1 as they change ends. Rencheli two points away from forcing a third set. Now 5-2 as Rencheli has two serves needing two points.
Now 5-3 as Rencheli sends a forehand long. ATTACK HER FOREHAND, PLEASE.
She does not. 6-3 Rencheli and Ma's up against it now.
Service winner to cut it to 6-4. And then a nifty shot to force Rencheli in no-man's land, and it's 6-5. Rencheli with a serve for the set here. But Rencheli dumps a half-overhead/volley into the net and they're tied at 6-6 as they change ends!
After another good, long rally (really the hallmark of this match), Rencheli sprays a backhand wide and Ma will serve for it now, up 7-6!