Australian Open 2013: Mladenovic defeated Timi in a dramatic battle

The meeting lasted two hours and 53 minutes. The Hungarian player hit 15 aces in vain at the meeting, and she couldn’t win the final 89-minute set.

"I regret this match, very much! In the end I thought that I'm going to finally win again. But I proud, that the previous fighting Timi was again on the court, I never gave up. That is why the loss hurt me very much after the clash. In the first set Mladenovic played at very high level, almost wanted to hit me from the track. It’s positive, that after the lost first set I came back to the match and my physique was good. In the end of the third set I was unlucky at the two break points. Firstly the wind changed during my shot, secondly my return was a bit hard and wide"- Timi said.


Before the Australian Open Mladenovic has not started in the 2013 season as wrist injury bothered her. Timi lost in the first round in singles in Shenzhen and in Hobart, but in Australia she was finalist in doubles with Mandy Minella.

Maldenovic led from the start of the match. She opened with a break and although she lost her serve soon, it didn’t bother her. The French played better, she led 5:2.

Then Timi had a break (5:3), but then she lost serve for the third time, although she had three game points. In the 37-minute opening act the young Hungarian didn’t win the 50 percent of the first and second serves, and this proved decisive.

Fortunately the second set was different, Timi served very confidently and received dangerously. Mladenovic hold the serve to 3:3, but then lost her service game. The Hungarian player took the opportunity, won the set in 47 minutes. Timi was successful behind the first (56%) and the second (93%, 13/14) serves, lost only five balls. While as a receiver collected 18 points.

Unfortunately the French began much better the third set, she led 3:0, broke her opponent to 40. Moreover, then Mladenovic had another three break points, but Timi saved all of them. At 5:3 the Hungarian had two break points at 15-40 then another after 40-40, and the latter had already been able to use. After this she equalized (5:5).

The French had another match point after this, but at 7:7 and 8:8 Timi had two break points. Mladenovic saved them; this gave new power, who had another three match points at 10:9. She used the chance and advanced to the second round.