Absolutely no one expected her, and yet she did it. At 27 years old, and while she is playing the 20th Grand Slam tournament of her career, Océane Dodin has defied all predictions by validating her ticket for the second week of a Major for the first time. Already falling this week to the Chinese Zhu Lin (32nd WTA), then the Italian Maria Trevisan (59th), the 95th player in the world, still faithful to her ultra-aggressive style, dominated from start to finish an extremely stressed by the stakes (6-2, 6-4).
The first official clash between the two players began as one might expect, between a particularly offensive Dodin and a Burel who was trying to establish her metronome game. Unfortunately for the Breton, on cloud nine two days earlier against Jessica Pegula (5th), the prospect of playing a first round of 16 at a Grand Slam (and at the same time entering the Top 40) seemed paralyzing from the outset his arm and his legs. Frustrated and nonchalant, multiplying unforced errors, Burel delayed the deadline for a moment (4 break points saved) but logically let go of her commitment at 3-2. Opposite, Dodin, despite a rusty first serve (only 45% of first balls in the first set), easily took the upper hand in the exchange (6-4).
Burel under pressure
Increasingly relaxed and confident, the Lille player broke once again in the third game of the second set, notably after another completely unscrewed forehand from her opponent, who screamed his frustration on the court. Dodin was, however, for the first time too, caught up in the challenge, since she wasted three opportunities to lead 4-1 (a double fault, two unforced errors on the backhand), before giving up her serve for the first time in the match. But she broke again immediately and offered herself the possibility of serving for the match at 5-3.
Once again, the tension caught up with her, in the form of unforced errors on the forehand. ” I am scared ! », she then shouted in the direction of her companion, just as stressed as she was on the edge of the court. Fortunately for Lille, her opponent started the next game with a double fault. A backhand that was too long, then a forehand sliced into the net (his 19th and 20th unforced errors) gave Dodin his ticket to the round of 16 (6-2, 6-4 in 1h14).
2024-01-20 05:00:15
#Océane #Dodin #dismisses #Clara #Burel #advances #Australian #Open
