BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL, DAY 3 – Varvara Lepchenko is much more calm these days, so much so that she will enjoy her tennis, win or lose. She wants to be better, year after year, but if she isn’t clicking in, she can sit down, think hard about what she can do, and change it up. If she is on fire, it doesn’t matter if she keeps dictates everywhere. All she needs to do is swing away and not is concerned about her tactics. Some days you are locking in and there is no turning back.
The American Lepchenko is smarter than she used to be and knows how to fool her opponents. Here in Brisbane, she took out Sam Stosur 7-5 in the third set when she has been down 5-1. She knew that Stosur would become tight and, if she can move in closer, she could become more aggressive and faster. She knew where to go and how to do it properly.
She did it and on Tuesday. She confused Keys, who is very powerful but who can be had. The left-hander stroked early and deep and was able to return the big young hitter. The now 28-year-old has a real shot to make it to the 32 seeded in the Australian Open. Currently ranked No. 34, she will play in the quarters in Thursday, perhaps playing against Karolina Pliskova, who overcame Vika Azarenka in over three hours. Lepchenko will play all day long and rarely backs downs. Last year, she wasn’t seated in the 2014 Aussie Open and was playing pretty well but had to go up against Simona Halep in the second round where the youngster was on fire. Lepchenko is once again ready to challenge anyone and this week in Brisbane the fans will give her a closer look. Moreover, the other players have to pay attention.
OTHER NOTES
Steve Johnson aims for an Australian Open seed. Photo: Ron Cioffi/TennisReporters.net
Pliskova has improved a great deal over the past year or so. She’s about to crack into the top 20 and, while the Czech hasn’t been watched by many people yet, look out. She is tall, hits a huge first serve, can crush the ball from her forehand and backhand and while she is not super fast, she is quick enough. The key for her is not to become afraid when she is playing the best competitors and that is exactly what she did in overcoming Azarenka, a two-time Slam winner. She didn’t back up and kissed the lines again and again. She has top 10 all over her.
Sam Groth says that he has improved over all and is changing his strategy but losing to Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-2 in Brisbane was a killer. Hewitt won the title last year, stunning Roger Federer, and people wanted to see them go at again. Not them, perhaps never again.
Alexandr Dolgopolov thumped Carlos Berlocq 6-2 6-3. Remember about four years ago that Dolgopolov was dancing around, mixing it up, ready to become a top young guy and lock into the top 10? He has not and may never have a real chance again.
Jarkko Nieminen bested Denis Kudla 4-6 6-1 6-4. The Fin is 33 years old, just like Federer and Hewitt. Roger is still No. 2 while the other guys are sliding. Not ‘Rog’ though.
American Steve Johnson overcame Marinko Matosevic of Australia 2-6 7-6(0) 7-5. He will face Kei Nishikori on Wednesday, where he will be the underdog, but currently ranked No. 37, he believes he is rising up. Should he stunned Kei, he might be able to reach the top 32 by the end of the week and grab a seed for the Aussie Open. The US guys wants that badly.
Leave a Reply