Tennis News
In front of 4,000 fans at Memorial Drive, professional tennis returned in 2021.
The first balls of the Australian summer were hit by a star-studded cast assembled in Adelaide for A Day at the Drive, and despite the unprecedented times, some familiarity ensued, with Simona Halep and Serena Williams both winners on Friday.
Halep came from behind in the evening session to beat Aussie favourite Ash Barty in a battle between the world’s top two women, after Nadal took on Dominic Thiem in a clash between the reigning French and US Open champions.
On Friday afternoon, 23-time major winner Williams won a blockbuster clash against reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the first of the day’s women’s singles matches.
“Honestly, we haven't played in front of a crowd in over a year. So this is really cool,” Williams said after her 6-2 2-6 [10-7] win over Osaka.
“And then for having us, and trusting us with your laws, was great – we were so happy just to be here, and now it's worth it."
In the highest-quality match of the day in Adelaide, Barty’s power initially proved too strong for Halep until the Romanian’s consistency started to chip away at the world No.1’s resolve.
Halep raced through the second set to force a match tiebreak, which was a tight affair but one that the two-time major champion came out on top of to record a 3-6 6-1 [10-8] triumph.
"Actually I was very nervous, I felt like it was first time playing a match,” a smiling Halep said on court.
"I needed a little bit of oxygen today after two weeks’ quarantine, so it's not easy. And Ash doesn't look like she didn't play last year. It's gonna be a great fight, always, when I play against her."
Indeed, Barty had not appeared in a competitive setting since February 2020, and was thrilled to be back.
“I genuinely missed it so much and I cannot thank you guys enough for welcoming not only myself, but Sim, and all the other players here,” the Australian said to big cheers.
“I've been getting a little bit impatient the last two or three months getting ready to play, and I'm so excited to get started next week. It was the perfect preparation coming here.”
Following them on to court were Williams and Osaka, arguably the two biggest stars in women’s tennis.
Williams played an impressively clean opening set – finishing with twice as many winners as errors – while it was anything but for Osaka, who lacked rhythm and misfired on serve.
But the Japanese loosened up in the second set, unloading on several forehands to break in the opening game and wrest control of the momentum.
A match tiebreak was required to decide the outcome, with Williams ultimately more secure and steady.
