Yes, he had a good first set, playing the important points well at the beginning of the match and saving a handful of break points. However, in the long run, the inconsistency took its toll. The efficiency of his serve was also less than desirable. In the second set, he got less than 50% of his first serves. In the third, Bia put the ball more on the court (70%), but was not very aggressive. He only won 50% of the points with the first serve. Very little against an opponent who wanted (and needed!) longer exchanges. Putintseva, who sought out rallies and abused the shorts when she saw opportunities, came out on top.
From a mental point of view, it is worth remembering that facing Putintseva would be very different from the only match Bia had played this season. In Adelaide, young Canadian Victoria Mboko, top 20 at 19 years old, was the favorite. It was more aggressive. The Brazilian had no “obligation” to win. Today, the match was on Bia’s racket. Yes, there was expectation. It was necessary to attack and define points, but it was also necessary to manage the mistakes (and their mental consequences) that tend to appear more frequently when there is more aggression.
In the first set, Bia was competent in this aspect. Yes, he committed a double fault, as well as a couple of unforced errors, and had his serve broken as soon as he opened 4/2 in the opening set. However, when he had another advantage break and the chance to serve for the set at 5/3, he recovered from another double fault and came from 0/30 to win the game and the set.
The second half saw a more unstable Brazilian, serving poorly (only 49% of first serves, four double faults and three broken serves) and giving away important points for free. It happened in the 10th game, when Bia served at 40/15 and ended up giving up two set points. He escaped from both with a bit of luck (a return from Putintseva that, by a very close margin, was not a winner), but he didn’t have the same luck in the 12th game. This time, on the fourth set point, the Kazakh made a good return and closed the game and the set with a winning forehand.
In the final set, Bia opened 3/1. From the sixth game onwards, the “highs” were not so high, and the “lows” prevailed. The Brazilian made three unforced errors and was broken back. Then, in the eighth game, he served at 30/0, but failed again and again and lost serve again. Putintseva, then, was competent and served to close the match.
Things I think I think:
