MELBOURNE: World number one Simona Halep kept her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title on course by cruising into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The Romanian top seed needed just an hour and five minutes to sweep to an easy 6-2, 6-2 victory over Eugenie Bouchard on Margaret Court Arena.
“I thought that I played well tonight,” said Halep, who dominated the encounter.
“I hit the ball really well and it is always tough against her as she hits hard from the baseline.”
Four years ago this match-up was the Wimbledon semifinal, which the then up-and-coming teenager Bouchard won 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 after Halep was compromised by an ankle injury.
Halep has since risen to number one while Bouchard, once touted as the game’s new golden girl, has tumbled outside the top 100.
There was no chance of a Wimbledon repeat as the 23-year-old’s form woes were cruelly exposed by Halep who broke the Canadian’s serve at will.
So poor was Bouchard’s delivery that she couldn’t hold on to her serve a single time during a first set which Halep ripped through 6-2 in 33 minutes.
She finally held serve in the third game of the second set to sympathetic cheers from the Margaret Court Arena crowd.
But it was to be the only time in the match as Halep, scampering around the baseline, showed few ill-effects from rolling her ankle worryingly in her first-round win over Destanee Aiava.
“I felt the pain but I didn’t think about it,” said Halep of her fragile ankle, which was heavily taped.
“Even if I’m a little bit injured I still managed to move well. I want to win every time I play.”
The 26-year-old Romanian, who currently has no clothing sponsor, was wearing the same “lucky” red dress that she used while registering a dominant victory at the Shenzhen Open just over a fortnight ago.
She found the outfit on the Internet. “Was a (web)site, in China actually, and one of my managers helped me, and in 24 hours I had the outfit, and it was perfect. I was lucky,” she had said before her first-round match.
It helped her fight back from 5-2 and set point down against Australian teen Aiava.
But Halep needed no extra help Thursday to overcome the sadly out-of-form Bouchard.
She will face unseeded American Lauren Davis on Saturday for a place in the last 16 as the Romanian continues her quest for a first Grand Slam title.
Simona Halep keeps Slam dream alive with win over Eugenie Bouchard at Australian Open
Simona Halep keeps Slam dream alive with win over Eugenie Bouchard at Australian Open
Newcastle pounce on PSV errors to boost Champions League last-16 bid
- Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes
- PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle climbed into position to reach the Champions League last 16 by punishing PSV Eindhoven’s defensive blunders for a 3-0 win at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa, on his first Champions League start, and Anthony Gordon struck inside the opening half an hour after the Dutch champions played themselves into trouble.
Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring for his fifth goal in as many games just after the hour mark.
“I thought it was one of our best individual performances from a lot of the players for a while,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Victory for the Magpies was soured by an ankle injury to captain Bruno Guimaraes that forced the Brazilian off just before half-time.
Guimaraes could be a big miss for when Howe’s men make the daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain next week in the final round of league phase fixtures, hoping to secure a top-eight finish.
Newcastle sit in the top eight only on goal difference and will likely need to beat the holders on home soil to avoid the play-off round.
Wissa rewarded Howe’s faith for starting him ahead of Nick Woltemade up front with a goal and an assist on what the DR Congo international described as a “special night.”
Signed from Brentford in September, Wissa spent the majority of his career in the lower tiers of French and English football.
“Honestly, unbelievable. That’s why I joined the club... I almost cried,” said Wissa on hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch.
“Very emotional. 29 years old, I never believed to be here and so now I’m enjoying every single minute.”
Wissa swept in his first goal in European competition from Joelinton’s pass after a poor clearance by PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
PSV are romping toward another Eredivisie title with a 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Peter Bosz’s men won 4-1 away at Liverpool and hit Napoli for six earlier in the league phase, but are still at risk of missing out on a place in the top 24, which would secure progress to the play-off round.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall again for the second when Yarek Gasiorowski’s underhit backpass allowed Wissa to square for Gordon to roll into an empty net.
The England international now has six goals in the Champions League this season, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in the battle to be the competition’s top goalscorer.
However, a fine half for the home side ended badly when Guimaraes needed lengthy treatment after colliding with Kovar at a corner and was eventually replaced.
Howe’s options in midfield and defense were already depleted by a lengthy injury list amid a gruelling schedule with Newcastle still alive in four competitions.
However, up front he is spoiled for choice with Barnes in fine form since the turn of the year.
The 28-year-old burst through the static PSV defense to fire in his 12th goal of the season 25 minutes from time.
Saudi-backed Newcastle are one of five Premier League teams among the top eight as it stands as the English sides flex their financial muscle in Europe’s elite competition.
But they will have to finish the job against another of the continent’s wealthiest clubs when they travel to Qatari-owned PSG, aiming to deny the holders direct qualification for the last 16.
