Alize Cornet needed just 49 minutes to dispose of slumping Bojana Jovanovski in the first round of the Australian Open.
Cornet Struggles Out Of The Gate Asserts Herself After First Few Games
In what was not a sign of things to come, the opening game on the Frenchwoman's serve was nine points long, Jovanovski generating two quick break points at 15-40 to try and grab an early advantage. Cornet responded in kind and, after another deuce point, held to open the match. In what was a sign of things to come, Jovanovski threw away her first service game at love and Cornet was quickly up 2-0.
Another nine point game on Cornet's serve and another two break points came and went for Jovanovski with Cornet once again digging herself out of trouble for a 3-0 advantage. In what would turn out to be Jovanovski's best (and only) game of the match, she held at 15 to trim the Cornet edge to 3-1. Cornet would take the next three games at 15, finally having trouble-free services games in the fifth and seventh segments of the set, in between a break of Jovanovski's serve to capture the opening frame 6-1. The Serb won more points on Cornet's serve (eight) than she did her own (five).
Cornet Eases To A Love Set
Jovanovski showed more fight in the second set on serve, struggling to 30-all before the Frenchwoman took the last two points and with it, the early lead in the second set. Cornet would win the next 11 points in a row, holding at love for a 2-0 bulge, breaking Jovanovski again for a 3-0 scoreline and the first point on her own serve in the fourth game of the set before the Serb would register another tally again.
Cornet held comfortably and posted a 4-0 lead. The longest game of the match would ensue, 13 points, four deuces and three break points, Cornet wresting another game from the awful Jovanovski to go up 5-0. As if there was any doubt as to what would happen next, Cornet closed the match out in style, winning her final service game to 15 and sending Jovanovski back to Serbia with still a ton to think about.
Cornet receives unlikely assist for next match
The champion of Hobart, Cornet extended her winning streak to six matches and now has a terrific chance to make it seven as second seed Simona Halep was upset in straight sets by Chinese Shuai Zhang 6-4, 6-3. Zhang had never won a main draw match in a Grand Slam event in 13 previous tries before stunning the Romanian. Cornet will feel good about her chances in the upcoming round.