Showing admirable consistency and backs-to-the-wall tenacity, Sara Errani shocked pre-match favourite Sam Stosur 7-5, 1-6, 6-3, rolling with the punches before pouncing when a window of opportunity opened at the end of the third set. Unheralded and underestimated since the start of the tournament, the feisty Italian will be a match for whomever she meets in the final.
Ever inscrutable under her trademark hat and dark sunglasses, Stosur cut an intimidating figure as she strode purposefully from her chair to start the match. Giving off the air of an unbeatable champion, the Australian goes about her business methodically, mechanically almost. Her game is a product of her fabulously athletic physique, full of power and precision, and when she broke Errani to lead 2-0, the signs were ominous for the Italian.
But Stosur is not a machine, and unlike in her earlier matches, she began to misfire as early as the third game, handing the break back to Errani. ‘Saretta’, as she is affectionately known by the Italian fans, had a foot in the door, and the 5’4” fighter marched right in, taking control of the set.
Error-free Errani
The 21st seed, in contrast to Stosur, has a game that is based around a quick mind, fast hands and varied shot selection. She is reminiscent of her compatriot Francesca Schiavone in more ways than one. There is the way she stands to receive service, square on, feet somehow pointing in different directions. Her astute tactics are Schiavone-esque too. Her clever use of the court, ability to mix it up and defend as if her life depends on it bring the 2010 champion to mind too, as does her scream, not quite as potent as her compatriot’s, but as much a testament of her total commitment as last year’s finalist.
Games went with service until at 5-5 Stosur reached double figures on her unforced error count by netting on break point. Errani served out for the set confidently and was ahead, one set to love after 47 minutes.
Stosur on the offensive
Shaken, Stosur stirred into life and began going for her shots more, and with more success. Errani suddenly found herself unable to stop the Stosur roller. The Australian broke once, then twice and despite Errani holding for 1-5, the sixth seed wrapped up the second in 37 minutes.
Gripping decider
The decider was a gripping affair, with fortunes swinging back and forth. Crucially, Errani held at the outset, stopping Stosur’s momentum, and then broke when the Samantha from the first set reappeared, tighter, double-faulting and missing. The Sara of the first set was back too, jumping all over the Australian’s second delivery, pressing her back and then holding for a 3-0 lead.
The Stosur storm which had been blowing so hard in the second set had blown itself out momentarily and at 0-30 in the fourth game she was in deep trouble. But the Aussie is not US Open champion for nothing. A big service and some booming groundstrokes suddenly pulled her back to 3-3.
We were in a titanic struggle now, with both players giving it their all. Every point was worth its weight in gold, and Errani played a flawless seventh game to lead 4-3. A lucky net cord, a double fault and a superb backhand lob brought her two break points, saved by Stosur, but another double brought Errani a third and when Stosur hit wide, the Italian was one game from glory.
Errani kept her nerve to see the match out, wrong-footing her opponent on match point before collapsing to the floor, overcome by the realisation that she had reached her first Grand Slam final.
Forza Italia
So an Italian plays in the final for the third year running. Few would have guessed it would be the 25-year-old from Bologna (except those of you who had noticed Errani has won three clay-court tournaments already this year, in Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest), but who would suggest she cannot go all the way now? She will even have a dress rehearsal on Friday when she contests the women’s doubles final with Roberta Vinci. Errani is the first woman to qualify for the singles and doubles finals here since Kim Clijsters in 2003. The Belgian won the doubles but lost to Justine Henin – will ‘Saretta’ go one better?
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