O’Connell acknowledged that reaching the third round was the highlight of his career to date, and he aimed to move inside the top 100 in 2022.
He won a second-set tiebreaker after both players put on a serving exhibition par excellence in the final six games of the set, when the serving player won 32 consecutive points before O’Connell forced Cressy to lose a point on service early in the tiebreaker.
Cressy then rebounded to gain two set points which O’Connell saved, much to the delight of the rowdy crowd, to force the match beyond three sets by winning the second set.
However, he could not break through Cressy’s serve as the bearded American, who has served more aces than any other man this tournament, won every game on serve. Although the crowd chanted a White Stripes song to encourage O’Connell it was doubtful a Seven Nation Army could have broken Cressy such was his control and dominance.
It wasn’t as though O’Connell didn’t have his chances, but he could not convert the miserly three break points he managed to create in four sets, later admitting he found it tough against a serve-volley player.
The rallies were short and frenetic, which suited Cressy more than O’Connell.
Once Cressy broke O’Connell early in the fourth set it was going to be tough for the Australian wildcard to find a way back.
Maddison Inglis lost her momentum against the more experienced Kaia Kanepi. Credit:Eddie Jim
Inglis had a similar take to O’Connell, saying the experience she gained in reaching the third round of the Australian Open has given her belief that she belongs in grand slams as she pushes to move inside the top 100 before the end of the year.
Doubts receded quickly in the hot sun as Inglis seemed for a moment to be heading to the fourth round after a stunning opening set against Kanepi, before dropping off.
The 24-year-old wildcard, who recorded her first grand slam win in the opening round of the tournament, was holding her serve and breaking her opponent’s with ease as she dominated the court in the first set to claim it.
Inglis said winning her first grand slam matches was a crucial step in her burgeoning career.
Maddison Inglis and Kaia Kanepi after their clash. Credit:Eddie Jim
“This week, I really proved to myself and to, you know, the people around me that I do have it in me,” Inglis said. “And belief does a lot for your game and how you play.”
She said the final two sets underlined to her what she needs to focus on to take another step forward.
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“I still have so much work to do and a lot of things to improve on, which is exciting,” Inglis said.
Reaching the third round lifted Inglis’ ranking to 115 and O’Connell should move to 140.
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Gutsy Australian wildcards fall out of contention in third round
Source: Philippines Alive
