Melbourne, Australia (AP)-The American Taylor Townsend returned to the field where her career took off, teaming up with Katerina Siniakova to beat Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6. -3 In the final of the female double Sunday at the Australian Open.
“It’s very special for me,” said Townsend. “The last time I played on this field, I was 15 years old and in 2012, I won among the juniors here and it was kick -off.
“Honestly, being here is very special for me because this tournament was the beginning for me to be able to live my dream.
Townsend and Siniakova, of the Czech Republic, head of the meands, led 6-2, 5-3 and served for the first time at 5-4 in the second set. But Hsieh and Ostapenko, third heads, rallied to win the second set during a tie-break and make an early break in the third.
Taylor and Siniakova were able to rely on a team work proven on crucial points. It was their third big home together: they won Wimbledon Last year and reached the semi-finals of the US Open.
They also managed to exploit a suspicion of weakness on the Hsieh service with Ostapenko in the net, breaking it four times in the match, especially during the ninth game of the final set. Siniakova then served the match, Townsend bringing the final touch to the net.
The match was played in hot conditions during the National Day of Australia. The temperature was around 22 ° C in the middle of the afternoon and the terrain was hot, which allowed the ball to pass faster, especially from the left-handed Townsend.
Siniakova and Townsend took an advance of 5-1 in 30 minutes and while Hsieh managed to keep 5-2 in the best set match, Siniakova held out to close the first set in 37 minutes.
Winning or losing Siniakova was going to extend his stay at the top of the Double WTA ranking at 136 weeks, the fifth best series of all time. She reached the semi-finals or better in the last five Grand Slam tournaments.
The second set, almost the same as the first, started with Ostapenko and Townsend holding the service, then Hsieh was breakfast at 2-1.
Ostakpenko held 2-3 and there was a notable increase in intensity on the part of the third heads, a recognition of the importance of the moment and they managed to bring Townsend back to 3-3.
But another Hsieh service break gave Townsend the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4, but again, Ostapenko and Hsieh rallied at the level of 5-Tous. Hsieh then succeeded in a crucial socket with Ostapenko who occasionally starting at the bottom of the field rather than in the net.
Siniakova took the set in a tie-break in which Ostapenko and Hseih took two points against Townsend at 5-4 and 6-4 to equalize the match.
The complexion of the game had changed and the third series heads managed to break Siniakova for the first time during the opening match of the third set, although Siniakova and Townsend immediately beat Ostapenko to equalize 1 everywhere.
Hsieh was again breaking during the ninth game and this time Siniakova did not miss his blow.
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