And here’s another brilliant game to start the Day 1 of the 2024 Australian Open between 9th seed Barbora Krejcikova from Czech Republic & Japan’s Mai Hontama at Margaret Court Arena. Hontama fired off really well with an easy opening set lead by surprise before Krejcikova turned herself around when not only she won the 2nd set but made good use of medical time out break in the decider en route towards a two-set victory in the end there after two & 1/2 hours – 6-2, 6-4 & 6-3.
Oh so close from Hontama where it’s not been easy facing a Top 10 seeded player like Krejcikova & she has done great under pressure to stay ahead, having got away with the early lead after the opening set’s play. She just couldn’t find the finish line unfortunately off the back from the Czech’s fight back that went on & on until Hontama was eliminated early from the tournament. Let’s hope she can kick on throughout the year as this is her first grand slam here other than Wimbledon whose best finish there was 2R in 2022. Looking at Krejcikova now & what a comeback from 1-0 down as well as on the brink of being unexpected kicked out to an opening set win under pressure v Hontama. She would be disappointed regarding the opening set performance to begin with but the Czech has shown lots of fightback that shows her credibility on the court as an established grand slam player in both singles and doubles formats, having won the French Open a few years ago back in 2021. Krejcikova has plenty of catch up to do in a bid to get back in the Finals picture since the 2022 Quarter-Finals here ahead of her next round opponent v Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch after she too got away with a brilliant comeback herself, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.