Casey Dellacqua has come up short in a bid to make a maiden Grand Slam appearance after an overnight 7-5 6-2 loss to Italian Flavia Pennetta.
The 11th seed Pennetta dashed Dellacqua’s hopes of facing Serena Williams in the quarter-finals when the 29-year-old Perth native faltered late, failing to match her intensity shown in the tightly fought opening set.
Dellacqua threatened to stage an unlikely upset just two points away from an first set win with Pennetta serving at 4-5.
“That was when I felt like, `C’mon, I can get this first set.’” Dellacqua said.
“I obviously didn’t get that point. I think she freed up a little bit saving that one, swung out a little bit.
“She found her feet a bit better, her rhythm. That was probably a crucial point of the match and felt like I was finding my way, too.”
Failing to grab the momentum crusher, Pennetta raced out to a 4-0 lead to start the second, completing a run of seven straight games, eventually running away an easy winner with help from Dellacqua’s 35 unforced errors.
It’s not all bad news for Dellacqua, enjoying her best season as a pro and now set for a likely top 25 ranking after reaching the second week of Grand Slam this year.
“I’m disappointed (with) that loss, but overall I’m happy with where I’m heading, I’m happy with the tournament I’ve had, the tennis I’ve played. I’m definitely not complacent with where I’m at because I’m reaching career highs. In the last 12 months, there was only one way I was going to go, and it was (up). I need to continue to work hard, consolidate my space in the top 30.
“I’m 29, I’m not a spring chicken. I’m not going to go out there and start changing things within my game. I’ve been away for five weeks. I’m looking forward to getting home, seeing (one-year-old son) Blake, being home, being a mum for the next week, just relaxing, switching off.”
Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
