By Erik Gudris
(January 18, 2012) Who could forget last year’s heroics at the Australian Open from former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone after she won the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history against Svetlana Kuznetsova? Unfortunately, for the gutty Italian any chances at making more history down under will have to wait until next year. Meanwhile, a young American served noticed that she could well be on her way to the top 20 and even higher.
Despite top seed Caroline Wozniacki surviving a mild scare in the second set against Anna Tatishvili before the Dane won 6-1, 7-6, most of the other top seeds found themselves on cruise control into the third round with Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Li Na each barely dropping a handful of games on their way to straight set victories. Things weren’t so easy for No. 10 seed Schiavone who lost in rather messy fashion to fellow Italian Romina Oprandi 6-4, 6-3 with Schiavone reeling off 35 unforced errors in the loss. Chinese star and No. 16 seed Shuai Peng also found herself exiting the event earlier as she fell to Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-4.
USA’s Christina McHale of Teaneck, NJ battled for over three hours against New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic. With a partisan crowd cheering on the Kiwi player, McHale dropped the first set but managed to claw out a 5-2 lead in the second before the American allowed Erakovic back in before McHale eventually won it in a tiebreak. McHale played a composed third set and finally saw off Erakovic 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to reach the third round of Melbourne for the first time in her career.
McHale now faces No. 13 seed Jelena Jankovic who defeated McHale in their previous and only meeting in Charleston last year.