GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN FROM MELBOURNE TENNIS ABOUT THE TENNIS CHICKS

Written by: Global Chick on 20th January 2015

GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN FROM MELBOURNE TENNIS ABOUT THE TENNIS CHICKS

epa04568693 Russia's Maria Sharapova cheers to the crowds after winning against Croatia's Petra Martic in their first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Is it better to rule from the start or are jitters good?

It is always a tricky obstacle course – for those of us who toil over the draw brackets and write the previews working out who meets which seed where, there is always that small moment of doubt – who will fall by the wayside, and thus ruin our painstaking planning!

So far only the only real casualty to note on WTA carnage day was Ana Ivanovic, who many thought could make another solid run in Melbourne.

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic reacts as she plays against Czech Republic’s Lucie Hradecka during their first round match for the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs from 19 January to 01 February 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

But even the far-and-away favourites acknowledge that the jitters are there for them too, not just the lower ranked players facing them.

By the time Maria Sharapova took to the court on Monday, she knew about all the scattered seeds and certainly had no intention of joining them, despite her opponent, Petra Martic, pegging her back to serve in their first set.

So step forward World No. 1 Serena Williams, who started her campaign in the kind of form we have come to expect, blasting Alison Van Uytvanck off the court in the first set, leaving the crowd checking their watches.

But the fight-back came as the Belgian started loosening up, and Williams started tightening up. It is easy to set aside The Hopman Cup losses as “just an exhibition” but the same frustrations that were evident in Perth started to surface in the one player we expect to sail forward on auto-pilot until things get tricky in the second week.

Serena Williams of the USA serves the ball to Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium during their first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, 20 January 2015. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Williams explained: “I felt okay. As always, I had the jitters going out in the first match of a Grand Slam. It’s never super easy to be the one that everyone wants to beat. So I always have to be a little bit above. But, yeah, I felt okay. I definitely think I can improve a tremendous amount.”

No matter how many times either of them bat away the prospect of the World No. 1 as a goal, it has to be in their minds as both Sharapova and Williams were casualties of the round of 16 last year. And with Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova also waiting in the No. 1 scenario wings, it actually makes the women’s championship a little more intriguing.

Is it better to be totally dominant at the start, or are these little test-ettes good for the champions-in-waiting? If nothing else, it gives hope to those yet to challenge them hope, that the jitters may just give them the tiniest chance.

Maria Sharapova continues her campaign on Wednesday against qualifier Alexandra Panova, while Williams will next play on Thursday, against former Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva.

Topics: Ana Ivanovic, AO15, AusOpen, global chick, Maria Sharapova, Melbourne, Serena Williams, tennis update, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

January 20, 2015 at 10:32 am

GLOBAL CHICK CHECKS IN FROM #MELBOURNE #TENNIS ABOUT THE TENNIS CHICKS- http://t.co/DciUgsQ6MQ @MariaSharapova @serenawilliams #AusOpen #WTA