There remains plenty of work to do for Aryna Sabalenka to win a first Grand Slam title at Australian Open 2022 but if it happens, the world No.2 might reflect on her opener as the moment her flagging fortunes changed.
Sabalenka flirted with danger against spirited home wildcard Storm Sanders — down a set and 3-1 — before recovering for a 5-7 6-3 6-2 win on Tuesday.
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From her perspective it was much needed, since her preparation couldn't have gone much worse.
"The start of the season wasn't great for me, but I'm really happy that I got this win," she said in her on-court interview.
The feisty, power-hitting Belarusian lost both her encounters this year prior to arriving in Melbourne, to then World No.100 Kaja Juvan and No.93 Rebecca Peterson.
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And both times Sabalenka's serve — one of the biggest weapons on tour when firing — deserted her. A combined 39 double faults told much of the tale. In her previous four defeats stretching to last season, the number balloons to 65.
She even resorted to serving underhand last week.
Sabalenka's results — notably back-to-back semifinals at Wimbledon and the US Open to end her Grand Slam woes — haven't been the same since suffering from Covid ahead of Indian Wells in October.
Keen observers know that Sanders won a doubles title with Ash Barty in Adelaide this month, and that her birthplace of Rockhampton in Queensland is also the birthplace of legend Rod Laver.
But Sanders is making waves herself, soaring 150 places in singles in 2021.
The left-hander became agonisingly close to engineering the first major upset of AO 22 and giving the home faithful further reason to cheer in a night session at Rod Laver Arena after Barty dismantled Lesia Tsurenko 24 hours earlier.
Sabalenka double-faulted twice in the first game on Tuesday, then gifted Sanders three more in her ensuing service game.
On the night, it was 12 — but Sanders hit 11.
That opening game lingered. Sabalenka began with an ace, suggesting the serve was back. But then Sanders, adopting her usual aggressive return stance, ripped a backhand return winner.
Sabalenka roared for the first but not last time to level at 30-all, only to double fault into the net. An errant ball toss exhibited Sabalenka's early nerves and another double fault contributed to a break.
Sanders was far from daunted even after Sabalenka hit back immediately, rolling to the next three games for 4-1. Her cat-like reflexes at net emerged in the sixth game when a forehand, then backhand volley on the same point lifted the crowd.
Yet the world No.128 wasn't immune to those double faults herself, hitting them back-to-back at deuce for 2-4.
A Sabalenka charge made it 5-5. She was back. Or so it seemed. Two double faults quashed the momentum, Sanders broke for 6-5 and this time served out the first.
Sabalenka gently flung her racquet to the court after back-to-back double faults kicked off the second set, and the early pattern of the set followed the first.
It was 3-1, and Sanders even held a point for a double-break advantage.
"I was already in my locker room, maybe that was the key because I stopped thinking too much and I just started playing tennis," Sabalenka said of her comeback.
"I tried to put the ball (in) as much as I could and I did it well, I think. That's why I came back. But she played so well. She's a tough opponent and I'm really happy I won today."
Sanders' inability to capitalise proved a massive turning point, compounded by missing a pair of game points at 3-2. Sabalenka, however, had stepped it up.
Sabalenka staved off two more break points, and instead of Sanders possibly being in the clear, the favourite on paper led 4-3.
Raising her arms in jubilation, Sabalenka prompted a decider.
An energised Sabalenka thrived in the third, while the fist pumps that accompanied Sanders following winners largely disappeared.
Sabalenka roared again to break for 3-0. Everything went her way, including a net-cord to hold for 4-0.
The serve featured again for Sabalenka on match point — in the way she desired.
A thumping delivery ended a night of drama.