Australian Open semi-finals: Muguruza beats Halep, Kenin stuns Barty – as it happened – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

2. (am EST) :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 5-6 Muguruza These two are going hell for leather, some of their hitting is sensational. It’s a physical battle out there, and you’d think Muguruza needs to get it wrapped up in two, given Halep was the fresher heading into this one. Muguruza holds, and a third set will not be needed if she can muster one final break of serve now.

2). (am EST)

: ()

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8- 28), 5-5 Muguruza the pressure mounts on Halep at 33 – and then intensifies further at – 67. Break point, but a Muguruza forehand finds the net and the chance goes … but not for long. Another couple present themselves soon after but Halep saves both those too. A fourth follows, as Halep pummels a forehand into the net, and then she goes long – by inches – and Muguruza levels things up!

2. (am) EST :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 5-4 Muguruza No problems this time for Muguruza. An ace at 46 – 0 is followed by Halep returning into the net and the Spaniard has a love hold for the first time today. And she’s still in with a shout of ending the match this set.

2). (am) EST 19:

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8- 28), 5-3 Muguruza Both players look like the heat is beginning to affect them, even though the court on Rod Laver Arena is now in shade. Their exertions over the past hour and minutes-ish could also have something to do with it. Halep holds and Muguruza will not have to serve to stay in the second set.

2. () am EST :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 4-3 Muguruza that high quality continues, as Muguruza aces twice before moving Halep around the court expertly and finishing off with a forehand into the corner.

2. (am EST ) :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8- 28), 4-2 Muguruza

Halep seems to be in a hurry here , but a brilliant forehand winner punched back past her by Muguruza brings up another break point. It’s not taken, but another one soon follows as the Spaniard moves into the net and finishes off with a smash. Halep hammers a forehand down the line to save it though. And she goes on to hold. This is some high level tennis.

Updated (at 2.) am EST

2. (am EST : 14

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 3-2 Muguruza Halep breaks again after one of the longest games of the match so far, and despite Muguruza serving up three aces during it. How will Muguruza respond this time?

(1.) am EST

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8- 28), 2-2 Muguruza Huge credit to Muguruza here as she breaks back straight away, sealing the game with a  forehand winner! That could prove to be a huge opportunity lost for Halep …

(1.) (AM EST) :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 2-1 Muguruza

The pendulum swings once more as Muguruza crumbles to 0 – on her serve. Halep has three chances to break; She needs all three before finally capitalizing as Muguruza hits into the net.

(1.) am EST :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8- 28), 1-1 Muguruza Halep in trouble again as she falls to 32 – . But an ace – her first of this contest – and then a successfully challenged line call help her to dig out of the hole she found herself in. The Romanian manages to hold, and you can’t help but think that was a big, big hold in the grand scheme of things.

(1.) (am) EST :

Second set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28), 0-1 Muguruza Halep’s frustration is not eased as she challenges an ace call but the replays show the ball to have clipped the line. Muguruza holds and she’s a set and a game up.

Updated (at 1.) am EST

(1.) am EST : 52

Muguruza wins the first set 7-6 ( (- 8)

First set: Halep 6-7 (8 – 28) Muguruza

Muguruza does it! Halep looks incredulous, but the Spaniard takes the lead. A code violation follows for Halep as she vents her frustration by destroying her racket on the court. She’ll have to regain her composure if she’s to recover now.

(1) (am EST

First set tie-break Halep 8-8 Muguruza Now Halep has a chance to secure the first set thanks to an overhit backhand. It’s saved as Muguruza sends down a wide serve that Halep struggles to get to. But a double fault – her first of the match – gives Halep another set point. A – shot rally ends with Halep firing a forehand wide in the tramlines and we’re at 8 a piece.

(1.) am EST :

First set tie-break Halep 6-6 Muguruza Muguruza’s radar has gone awry – she hits another forehand into the net – but she recovers well with some deep hitting that Halep has trouble in returning on the next two points. But an big serve later, the Spaniard has two set points at 6-4 up. She wastes the first with a long ball and then Halep saves the second one with a wonderfully hit forehand winner down the line. Boom! We’re level as the players change ends again.

(1) (am EST) :

First set tie-break Halep 3-3 Muguruza Muguruza, who seems to have found a new lease of life, storms to a 3-0 lead before Halep fights back thanks to a strong serve that the Spaniard cannot return. Another two unforced errors from Muguruza allow Halep right back into contention and there’s nothing to separate them at the halfway stage of this tie-break.

(1) (AM EST) :

First set: Halep 6-6 Muguruza denotes server) Muguruza shows incredible spirit here, having fallen to – , to hold serve and send the first set to at ie-break. An ace saves the first and then the Spaniard refuses to roll over during a lengthy rally on the second.

am EST :

First set: Halep 6-5 Muguruza denotes server) Halep’s momentum continues this game, but Muguruza’s unforced error count continues to rise – she’s at now, to Halep’s meagre seven. That could well prove to be the difference this set.

(1) (am) EST : 38

First set: Halep 5-5 Muguruza denotes server) The sign of a champion player? She needed to break and Halep does just that. Muguruza doesn’t help herself, hitting the net at 0 – 46 Down to give the Romanian three chances. She needs just the one, after a rally featuring two net cords, which make life a bit tricky for the Spaniard. Nothing to separate these two in terms of the scoreboard at the moment.

Updated (at 1.) (am EST)

(1.) am EST

:

First set: Halep 4-5 Muguruza denotes server) Faced with having to win this game to stay in the first set, Halep rises to the occasion perfectly. A stunning backhand winner to go – 0 ahead highlights what turns out to be a love service game. But she’ll now have to break Muguruza now if she’s to stay alive.

(1.) am EST :

First set: Halep 3-5 Muguruza denotes server)

Muguruza finds the net at – 46 and Halep is presented with a chance to break back immediately. But the Spaniard moves with intent and flashes a forehand winner past Halep to save it. She continues her clean striking of the ball and wraps up the game with a fantastic forehand winner.

() . (am EST :

First set: Halep 3-4 Muguruza denotes server)

A wonderful forehand slice brings up another chance for Muguruza to break Halep and this time she gets it with a backhand winner! The Spaniard with the advantage now.

Garbiñe Muguruza edges ahead. Photograph: Lynn Bo Bo / EPA

am EST :

First set: Halep 3-3 Muguruza denotes server) This is quick-fire tennis, neither player is standing back, and we’re six games in with just minutes on the clock. Muguruza holds again, without fuss, and it’s on serve midway thought the opening set.

. (am EST :

First set: Halep 3-2 Muguruza denotes server) A bit of a wobble here from Halep, as Muguruza brings up two break point chances . The Spaniard fails to take either though, and when she adds two more to her unforced error count – one backhand, one forehand – any hope of making a breakthrough this game evaporates.

(am EST

First set: Halep 2-2 Muguruza denotes server) A couple of errors creep into Halep’s game at the beginning of this game, giving Muguruza a little helping hand in opening up a 0 lead. But it’s contagious and the Spaniard delivers two unforced errors of her own before she manages to secure the game – thanks to a Halep ball into the net. Still on serve early in this first set.

(am EST) :

First set: Halep 2-1 Muguruza denotes server)

And another for Halep, who serves out to love with the minimum of fuss. She looks the more comfortable of the two players with the ball in hand on the evidence so far today – she’s boasting a 438% first serve win percentage.

Simona Halep hits a forehand. Photograph: Lynn Bo Bo / EPA

Updated (at) . 120 am EST

30. am EST :

First set: Halep 1-1 Muguruza denotes server) Halep, who is coached by Australian Darren Cahill, is through to the final four without dropping a set. Having expended as little energy as possible on her way, that efficiency may prove a key factor in today’s match. Muguruza has to save two break points here, but survives her opening service game.

am EST :

First set: Halep 1-0 Muguruza denotes server) No messing about then, straight into the next match. Halep serves first and eases to a comfortable opening game. It’s getting hot out there, although the roof is still open, which means the heat threshold has still not been reached. That could yet change. It was 4.8 on the scale earlier – 5 is the limit.

30 (am EST 16:

Mike Hytner

Thanks Emma. So Sofia Kenin awaits the winner of our next match, to be contested between world No 3 Simona Halep and 48 – ranked Garbiñe Muguruza. They’re already on court, so let’s have a quick look at the tale of the tape between this pair.

The Spaniard leads head-to-head 3-2, although she trails 1-0 at grand slams, following Halep’s convincing win on the red dirt of Roland Garros in the 2912 French Open semi-final. Halep’s other win over Muguruza also came on clay – in Stuttgart five years ago – while the Spaniard’s three victories all came on hard courts – in Cincy, at the Fed Cup and in Wuhan.

Halep, a former world No 1, is seeking her third grand slam crown, to add to those won in Paris in and at Wimbledon last year. The Romanian is bidding to reach her second Australian Open final, having lost to the now-retired Caroline Wozniacki in the decider.

For her part, Muguruza is in the last four of the Australian Open for the first time, but like Halep has also won two previous slams – the French in 02506 and Wimbledon in .

Plenty to look forward to. Please do get in touch with an email ([email protected]) or on Twitter @ mike_hytner

(am EST :

In summary, this wasn’t Barty’s best display. She was quite the indestructible force she has been throughout an affair in nearly degree temperature. Unforced errors did not help her cause – she made to Kenin’s – but it was difficult to fault the th-seeded American. Australia’s – year wait for a home-grown (Australian Open) (champion continues.)

Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report from Rod Laver Arena:

Thanks for joining me. I’ll now hand the baton to Mike Hytner, who will keep you up to date with the second semi-final.

Updated (at) am EST

32. (am) (EST) :

“It was really tough,” Kenin (the Barty Crasher) continues. “I knew she was not going to give up to me. I really needed to fight out there. She’s a great player. There’s a reason she’s world No 1. ”

Updated (at)

(am EST)

(am) (EST) :

The dream is over, Australian hearts broken across the seven kingdoms as the nation’s sweetheart bows out one step away from the big dance. The – year-old will be bitterly disappointed with that result, beaten in straight sets in a semi-final she was expected to win in straight sets. But blimey, that was some performance from the quiet American, who won four consecutive games from 5-3 down in the second set and could yet go all the way. She has just told Nine she’s actually “feisty”. We believe her.

Updated (at) (am EST)

. (am) (EST) :

Game, set and match Kenin

Second set: Barty

6-7, 5-7

Kenin denotes server):

Barty must keep her cool here and not let the pressure get the better of her. She’s down 0 – but gets one back. Now Kenin has two match points but it is but a flesh wound as Barty fires from all canisters to keep herself in her home grand slam, capping a superb rally with a winner to match it. She can’t quite get this over the line though and smacks the deciding shot out. Game, set and match. Not quite just a flesh wound, then.

Updated (at 2.) am EST

. pm EST

Second set: Barty

6-7, 5-6

Kenin denotes server):

This has taken a real turn. Kenin is fearless and Barty playing it too safe. She’s serving to stay in this now and it’s not looking good.

Second set: Barty

6-7, 5-5

Kenin denotes server):

Barty has two set points to play with after putting away a winner Kenin barely gets her racquet to. As if shaken awake, a smart-thinking Kenin approaches the net and draws Barty in, before dispatching out of reach. This is a proper scrap now, and Kenin has designs on breaking back, pulling away with the advantage before falling back to deuce via a shanked shot. She’ll have another crack at it, though, after Barty whips one down crosscourt and she responds with interest at an angle even more accute. Kenin makes no mistake this time, and has broken back.

. (PM EST

:

Second set: Barty

6-7, 5-4

Kenin denotes server):

A couple of missteps allow Kenin, whose intensity has dropped markedly, to hold from – . Barty will now serve for the second set.

(PM EST ) :

Second set: Barty 6-7, 5-3

Kenin denotes server): (If)

Barty was a knife the cake would be sliced ​​into smithereens. She has adapted commensurately to this challenge under sapping heat and is now using that low, slow backhand slice to her advantage – 326 per cent of her backhands this set have been that option – and it’s eliciting lots of errors up the other end.

. (PM) (EST) : 58

Second set: Barty

6-7, 4-3

Kenin denotes server):

Kenin cannot allow Barty any further room to move here, after the Australian’s swag of winners. She’s up – but that thorn in her side slips a little deeper and she’s scratching for a breakthrough moment at 58 – 45. Barty is engaging in motivating some self-talk but Kenin can’t hear, she’s too busy keeping her cool. She holds.

Updated (at) . (pm EST)

Read More