Storm Hunter came close to causing an upset against the ninth seed, Barbora Krejcikova, but ultimately lost in a brave effort during the third round of the Australian Open in the early hours of Saturday at Melbourne Park.
The player ranked 180th globally gave the former winner of the French Open a tough challenge in the second set, but Krejcikova was able to overcome the opposition and win with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after two and a half hours.
Hunter’s unlikely journey at Melbourne Park, starting from the qualifying rounds, came to an end with this defeat. However, this experience is expected to aid her rise in the singles rankings in 2024.
She stated that it was a challenging game and she was determined to come out victorious. She had several opportunities, but Barbora performed exceptionally well under pressure and made some crucial serves when she had break point chances.
In 2023, Hunter achieved the top ranking in doubles for the world. However, this year she has scheduled more singles events to increase her opportunities in that category. Despite not winning, she considers this week a success for her singles game. She stated, “Although I didn’t come out on top, this entire week has been a victory for my singles performance.”
The 29-year-old’s display in the match suggests she has the game to compete and Krejcikova was first to praise her performance afterwards. “She’s doing great, she had a great run. And I mean, I’m definitely super happy that I was able to get it in a second set,” Krejcikova said.
In the beginning of the match, Hunter proved to be a strong competitor against Krejcikova. Despite being the favored player, she was broken three times in the first set and made 21 unforced errors, while Hunter only made seven. Both players had difficulties with their serves, resulting in five breaks within the first seven games. Hunter took the lead and even gestured to the crowd in Rod Laver Arena to increase the energy.
Those who remained following Novak Djokovic’s win against Tomás Etcheverry had hope for a memorable evening at Melbourne Park, as the energy in the stadium increased. The loudness appeared to awaken Krejcikova, and the second set progressed without any opportunities for a break point. However, this changed during the crucial moments of the match.
At a score of 4-4, the Czech athlete earned the first three points, but Hunter claimed the next four. If the Australian had hit one more powerful forehand or sneaky drop shot, they could have potentially served for the match in the next game. However, a return went beyond the boundary line and the chance was missed. Four points later, there was another chance, but it was blocked by an ace.
Krejcikova explained that she approaches each point individually, as everything can quickly shift in the game of tennis. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on every single ball.
After making a successful recovery, Hunter returned to the game with two more break points when the score was tied at 5-5. The first break point was won by the Czech player with a powerful backhand shot that landed on the line. The second break point was lost by Hunter as her return went out of bounds. Krejcikova then held her serve and went on to break the Australian player in the next game, ultimately winning the set. She continued her momentum in the third set, quickly gaining a 3-0 lead and eventually claiming the victory.
Hunter commented that he continuously checked to see if the woman was going to break under pressure. Despite facing a hostile crowd, she remained resilient and delivered impressive responses throughout.
In the fourth round, Krejcikova will compete against 16-year-old Russian player Mirra Andreeva.
