05-25-2022, 11:29 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-25-2022, 12:21 PM by ColoradoTree.)
Ma breaks Ewing at love to open the second and she leads 6-2, 1-0. Then a quick hold at love for 2-0, and Ewing's body language tells the story. Slumped, defeated, wondering how she keeps sending these balls long. But then it's Ma pushing a few deep and it's yet another deciding point on Ewing's serve, and this time Ma pounces on the return but it's in the net, and it's 2-1.
Tight game on Ma's serve, but she ends it with an ace up the T for a 3-1 lead, and then Ewing holds at love for 3-2.
Another tight game on Ma's serve ends with a really nice rally from both players and a Ma winner clipping the line. 4-2. Another deciding point on Ewing's serve but Ma mishits it and it's in the next court over. 4-3. Ewing's level has been much better in this set, but Ma remains the aggressor.
Well, that was a poor time for Ma's serve and ground strokes to desert her. Ewing gets her first break of serve of the match to make it 4-4 in the second. Can she break right back? She's been unflappable all match, but she's starting to get frustrated.
Nope, she can't. Ewing holds at love and plays more confidently than she has all match, while Ma has tightened up and seems to be aiming her shots more rather than swinging away. Sigh. 5-4 Ewing in the second, and Ma better turn it around quickly.
Full credit to Ewing for sensing an opening and pushing through it, but a disappointing stretch here for Ma. She went from being calm and collected to looking completely defeated on a dime. At 4-5, 15-40, Ma looked lost. But she found something to get it to deciding point, and then inexplicably dumped it into the net when she had the whole court in front of her. What a letdown. Match tied up now, and Ma has only herself to blame.
Tight game on Ma's serve, but she ends it with an ace up the T for a 3-1 lead, and then Ewing holds at love for 3-2.
Another tight game on Ma's serve ends with a really nice rally from both players and a Ma winner clipping the line. 4-2. Another deciding point on Ewing's serve but Ma mishits it and it's in the next court over. 4-3. Ewing's level has been much better in this set, but Ma remains the aggressor.
Well, that was a poor time for Ma's serve and ground strokes to desert her. Ewing gets her first break of serve of the match to make it 4-4 in the second. Can she break right back? She's been unflappable all match, but she's starting to get frustrated.
Nope, she can't. Ewing holds at love and plays more confidently than she has all match, while Ma has tightened up and seems to be aiming her shots more rather than swinging away. Sigh. 5-4 Ewing in the second, and Ma better turn it around quickly.
Full credit to Ewing for sensing an opening and pushing through it, but a disappointing stretch here for Ma. She went from being calm and collected to looking completely defeated on a dime. At 4-5, 15-40, Ma looked lost. But she found something to get it to deciding point, and then inexplicably dumped it into the net when she had the whole court in front of her. What a letdown. Match tied up now, and Ma has only herself to blame.