Dark horse Makarova thunders into Open semis

27 January 2015 06:31

Australian Open dark horse Ekaterina Makarova of Russia raced into the semi-finals on Tuesday as opponent Simona Halep admitted she was stressed and froze on the big stage.

Makarova, seeded 10, easily overcame the Romanian third seed 6-4, 6-0 to set up an all-Russian final four showdown with world number two Maria Sharapova.

The 26-year-old has made the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park twice previously but never before advanced to the semis in seven attempts.

"I love it, it's a great feeling that I came through," she said.

"She's a tough opponent. I lost to her two years ago (in New Haven). I'm used to being in the quarters, so now I have to get used to being in the semis."

Halep, renowned as one of the toughest fighters on tour, admitted she froze when it mattered most, allowing Makarova to serve up a dreaded 6-0 "bagel" to the world number three.

In contrast, Makarova said she was uncomfortable with the media hype that surrounds some players but felt at home on centre court.

"I'm not shy on the tennis court. It's a big stage," she said told reporters. "It's a different situation, maybe, to when I'm sitting here and you're asking me questions.

"But over there, yeah, I'm showing my best tennis. That's what I'm really love to do and for what I'm living actually. It's really enjoyable time out there."

- Soft hands -

Halep made a nightmare start, trailing 3-0 on the back of two early breaks, thanks to two double faults and a rash of unforced errors.

She broke back in the fourth game and had her chances in the eighth but struggled as the taller Makarova went for tight angles, forcing Halep wide of the baseline.

"I was expecting she would hit more stronger, but she didn't. She played very soft tennis today," Halep said.

"She opened the angles very well, so was a different game. She played well. She served very well. Her lefty slice is not easy to give the ball back."

The nuggety Romanian said she was not herself on court.

"It was not really pressure, just a little bit stressed. I don't know why," she said.

She survived one set point with an ace at 5-3 and another with a blistering forehand return as Makarova served in the next game, but the Russian took it on the third attempt after 39 minutes.

Makarova, her right thigh heavily strapped, showed no sign of impaired movement, pouncing on a weak Halep return to pressure her opponent in the opening game of the second set.

Halep double faulted again, going on to lose her third service game of the match.

She again had chances with four break points in the next game but Makarova held on and proceeded to score another break of her own as Halep's returns failed to find their mark.

By this stage Halep's trademark fighting qualities had deserted her and the world number three meekly handed Makarova another break to concede the match.

Source: AFP