2020 Dubai Championships - WTA Premier. Kim Clijsters returns!

[flyingboris]

Players on the court! Anyone ready to watch? C'mon people, it's weekend!

 

[flyingboris]

Here we go!

Edit: couple unforced in the first game, but Rybakina holds. Both players not quite going for broke yet.

Ryberror on the court! By which I mean: couple of sky-high shanks just now.

On the upside: two service return winners by Rybakina in the second in the second game. Looks like Halep is going to have a tough day serving..

Halep saves a break point to win her first service game. 1-1

Game 3, Rybakina plays horrible drop shot. Hope that's a one off.. (still gets away with it). She holds. 2-1

Game 4, Simona's second double fault. Maybe she's feeling the pressure? Couple of absolute bullets by Elena, but Halep retrieves both. Halep holds, but she's doing some serious running around the court! 2-2

Game 5: There's now been a couple of points (3? 4?) where Rybakina tries to pull the trigger, but hits the top of the net. Maybe a tad too over eager. Still, she holds. 3-2. Halep is angry, swats a ball away. Nice balanced match so far. Forum posts: not so balanced.

Game 6: Another deuce game for Halep. She's certainly being tested! ... and Rybakina breaks! 4*-2

Game 7: I got distracted, but looked relatively straightforward. 5-2 Rybakina, Halep to serve.

Game 8: love hold for Halep, 5-3. Rybakina serving for the set.

Game 9: 30-30. Rybakina just hit a backhand halfway down the net. Easy girl.. Double fault. Deuce.. Lucky net cord for Halep, Elena saves it with good net play. Second set point... INCREDIBLE SECOND SERVE RETURN WINNER by Simona. Deuce. Second lucky net cord by Simona, break point. Ace! Deuce. Double fault! Ad Simona. Some good ground strokes, deuce! ... set point 3...

Elena takes the first set!

 

[flyingboris]

Great talk, flyingboris!

 

[elkwood]

Scared this one going to slip away from halep

 

[flyingboris]

Scared this one going to slip away from halep

Just as you say that, Rybakina is broken at love. 3*-1 Halep.

Edit: also, thanks for posting

 

[flyingboris]

Gotta love Rybakina's shoulders. This woman was built to sport.

 

[flyingboris]

Some stellar play by Halep right now. Epic.

Edit: but Elena survived, getting to 2-4. Then Simona loses her service game at love, maybe failing to break again rattled her? Either way, back on serve!

 

[flyingboris]

I'm not quite sure what we're learning here. Elena is.. unpredictable? Edit: I guess we're learning: inconsistent depth, and predictable direction.

Rybakina forehand placement:

 

[romeo8880]

That’s not Cahill. Where is Cahill?

 

[flyingboris]

Nine minute game so far, this has got to be absolutely exhausting..

Halep breaks, serving for the set at 5-3

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

New ball game! On to the decider.

 

[flyingboris]

It's going to a third set, Rybakina to serve.

 

[flyingboris]

Well, Rybakina is totally in this match against the world #2. Whichever way this ends, that's freaking impressive.

 

[flyingboris]

I don't like it when coaches shake their head, like 'nonono, you shouldn't hit in the net'. Really coach? Good point!

Edit: Elena holds despite a negative coach She could use a quick service game at some point though!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

I'm not quite sure what we're learning here. Elena is.. unpredictable?

Rybakina forehand placement:

I can't watch this match but Rybakina reminds me of Maria's in term of movement and game.

 

[flyingboris]

I can't watch this match but Rybakina reminds me of Maria's in term of movement and game.

Hadn't noticed. Notably absent: screeching, and facing the back wall fist pumping while making everybody wait.

Edit: spoke too soon, she does walk to the back wall between service points

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Whoever watch the match just please tell me is Rybakina show expression if she win.

Go Elena!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Hadn't noticed. Notably absent: screeching, and facing the back wall fist pumping while making everybody wait.

We don't need another that.

I finally can watch a match thanks to whoever live youtubing.

 

[zvelf]

Two poor games from both players as Rybakina gives the break right back. Rybakina's going to have to work on mental fortitude to add to her phenomenal forehand.

 

[zvelf]

I first noticed Rybakina when I got front row seats, well, a bench on court 14 at last year's U.S. Open to see Rybakina & Natela Dzalamidze drop a close one to Maria Sakkari & Ajla Tomljanovic 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 7-5. I had no idea then she had the ability to string together 4 finals this year.

 

[flyingboris]

Great point to start the 8th game in the third. Amazing retrieving by Halep to win that point.

 

[flyingboris]

Getting down to the wire. 4-4 15:15 final set..

 

[flyingboris]

Haha, incredibly lucky backhand volley drop from Elena to eke out that game. 5-4 Elena.

 

[flyingboris]

High speed camera catching a rare sight

 

[James P]

This Halep-Rybakina match is fantastic. Box office.

 

[helixx]

Cmon Ryba!!

 

[flyingboris]

This Halep-Rybakina match is fantastic. Box office.

Great stuff by both. Kind of a nail biter!

 

[flyingboris]

Noooooo Elena!! Whyyy

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Rybakina cracked but Ms. Simona receiced verbal abuse warning.

 

[flyingboris]

Rybakina cracked but Ms. Simona receiced verbal abuse warning.

Thanks, I was wondering what happened. I have the sound off

 

[flyingboris]

Smart play by Elena, aiming for the top of the netcord.

 

[James P]

Smart play by Elena, aiming for the top of the netcord.

60% of the time it works every time

 

[James P]

Break point!

 

[flyingboris]

Break point!

So close!

 

[helixx]

Noooooooooo

 

[flyingboris]

Not a bad return

Obamanotbad.jpg

 

[flyingboris]

Boom! Tie break!!

 

[helixx]

Vamos!!

 

[James P]

That was a gutsy break. Amazing.

 

[elkwood]

This been a great match !

 

[flyingboris]

This been a great match !

Fantastic! Lots of oohhhs and aaaahs here.

 

[zvelf]

3-3 in the tiebreaker!

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Match of the season so far?
There's virtually nothing separating them.

 

[flyingboris]

OMG, what a return again! Rybakina hasn't been dominating as much on the return as I though at the outset, but still some pretty good ones.

 

[helixx]

She eats that second serve for breakfast

 

[elkwood]

wow what a return !!!

 

[helixx]

Line judge

 

[elkwood]

Is that the first review she won ? this match !!

 

[helixx]

Pity

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Dang it, Elena!

That missing 2nd serve return!