Less than 24 hours after shocking Ana Ivanovic, British qualifier Naomi Broady came from the brink multiple times to edge out Latvian WTA Rising Star Jelena Ostapenko, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5, in the most controversial match of the season thus far. Broady will play American rising star Sloane Stephens next in the quarter finals of the 2016 ASB Classic; Stephens also edged Germany’s Carina Witthoeft in three sets.
Ostapenko Edges Broady to Capture Opening Set
This titanic battle began in the first set, where both women struggled to find their rhythm on serve. Of the ten games contested in the opening set, half of them were won by the receiver. Getting off to the perfect start, Ostapenko broke at the first time of asking in the second game, but Broady answered with a break of her own. From there, the pair traded breaks before exchanging a trio of routine holds of serve. However, leading 5-4 on-serve, the WTA Rising Star, breaking the British qualifier on her third opportunity to seal the opening set 6-4.
Ostapenko Races Out to Sizeable Lead, Broady Claws Her Way Back
The second set began in significant contrast to the first, with both women holding their service games relatively comfortably. However, a seemingly decisive break in the fourth game of the second frame gave Ostapenko an early advantage, one she would hold until late in the second set. Trailing 5-2, Broady admitted to suffering from mild cramps, as a result of all the tennis she has played in recent days, but fought on – with reaping rewards. Shortly after saving a match point, the Brit would hit two big aces at just the right time, holding to force her Latvian counterpart to serve for the win. Tensing up at the most costly of times, Ostapenko quickly went down 15-40 and despite saving one of the two break points against her, she was unable to stave off the late second set resurgence of Broady; the Brit breaking to prolong her stay in Auckland for a little while longer. From there, both women held their respective service games which ultimately meant that the second set would have to be decided in a tiebreak.
Utilizing her big serve to great effect, Broady quickly claimed an early mini-break four points into the seven-point shoot out, but it came at the most controversial point of the match. After Broady hit a heavy inside out forehand that she couldn’t get a racquet on, Ostapenko flung her racquet at the ball in frustration, hitting a ball boy in the process. For the next two minutes, Broady argued with umpire Blaze Trifunovski and WTA Supervisor Tony Cho, clearly stating that she thinks Ostapenko should be disqualified for hitting a ball boy with her racquet. "She threw the racquet and hit the ball boy, no way was that accidental," she complained.
According to the rules set by the Women’s Tennis Association, "players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the Tournament site."
In her defence, the 18-year-old said the racquet slipped out of her hand, and only a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct was given to the Latvian number one. Furious with the officials' decision, the British qualifier used all of her frustration to produce her best tennis of the match, ultimately winning the tiebreak 7-4 to force a decider.
Ostapenko Cruises to Seemingly Unassailable 5-1 Lead in the Decider, Broady Fights Back; Tensions Run High Between Both Women
After hitting the reset button, Ostapenko seemed to calm down as Broady's level dropped significantly and her's was on a rapid rise to the top. Shortly after exchanging holds with her British counterpart, the WTA Rising Star earned an emphatic break at love, which she would go on to consolidate by the same score line, and another break went the Latvian's way, consequently giving Ostapenko a double break and a sizeable 4-1 lead in the decider. Shortly after consolidating her double break cushion, the Latvian was within one game of securing a spot in the last eight of the ASB Classic.
However, that is when Broady began her extraordinary comeback. With the crowd behind her, the British number three began her late resurgence with an emphatic hold at love, followed by a break at 15 to recover one of the two breaks held against her. In the game that followed, Broady would go on to hold after saving a match point with a big one-two punch. Now, Ostapenko's 5-1 lead had become a slim 5-4 advantage, but she had at least one more chance to serve for the match. With tensions running high, it was unsurprising to see both women nervous and uptight from the baseline – a lot was riding on this one match, and the victor would enjoy reaping benefits.
Unfortunately for Ostapenko, she was unable to stop the roaring momentum of Broady, who was clearly giving this second round match everything she had left in the tank. Breaking at the second time of asking, the Brit was back in business, and was all square with her Latvian counterpart. A couple of moments later, Broady found herself back in front once again, holding for a 6-5 lead after saving a break point with another ace – her 21st of the match. Would she be able to break for a sixth time to complete a seemingly improbable comeback victory?
In the end, the pressure of it all got to the 18-year-old Latvian. Having served for the match three times, Ostapenko was forced to serve to stay in the match for the first time but she just couldn’t string together enough points to pose any threat to Broady’s momentum and rapidly improving confidence. On her first match point, Broady took a chance and stepped in, ripping an inside out forehand winner to seal a hard-fought and controversial 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory.
That was some handshake! Broady yelled at Ostapenko for hitting the ball boy w/her racquet. #NoLoveLost #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/6ZS0EzC19T
— Max (@MGLovesTennis) January 6, 2016
At the net, Ostapenko avoided any eye contact with Broady at all costs, which prompted the latter to yell at the former, who was already about to pack her bags at her chair, "You hit a ball boy with your racquet!"
Things didn’t stop there; the two had a spontaneous argument while packing their bags a couple of feet away from one another, which forced the umpire to intervene for safety concerns.