2020 Match Point Saves November 4, 2020

Great Escapes 2020: Winning from match point down

From Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane to Anett Kontaveit in Ostrava, players who have saved match point before recovering to claim victory this season.

In the Brisbane semifinals, Karolina Pliskova lost an epic first-set tiebreak and faced one match point as Naomi Osaka served for the match at 6-5 in the second set - but fought back to win 6-7(10), 7-6(3), 6-2 en route to defending her title. — 01 /26

In the Brisbane semifinals, Karolina Pliskova lost an epic first-set tiebreak and faced one match point as Naomi Osaka served for the match at 6-5 in the second set - but fought back to win 6-7(10), 7-6(3), 6-2 en route to defending her title.

Jimmie48/WTA

Lauren Davis saved one match point in the final-set tiebreak in overcoming Astra Sharma 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) in the first round of Hobart. — 02 /26

Lauren Davis saved one match point in the final-set tiebreak in overcoming Astra Sharma 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) in the first round of Hobart.

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Viktoria Kuzmova, who won from match point down three times in 2019, pulled off her first escape of 2020 in the first round of Hobart, saving one match point serving at 4-5 in the third set before defeating Zhu Lin 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(3). — 03 /26

Viktoria Kuzmova, who won from match point down three times in 2019, pulled off her first escape of 2020 in the first round of Hobart, saving one match point serving at 4-5 in the third set before defeating Zhu Lin 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(3).

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Hobart's first round also saw Catherine Bellis save one match point serving at 3-6, 3-5 down against Marie Bouzkova, coming back to win 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 for her first WTA main draw match since Indian Wells 2018. — 04 /26

Hobart's first round also saw Catherine Bellis save one match point serving at 3-6, 3-5 down against Marie Bouzkova, coming back to win 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 for her first WTA main draw match since Indian Wells 2018.

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A fourth Hobart Houdini act saw Garbiñe Muguruza save one match point serving at 5-6 in the third set against Ons Jabeur in round two, winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) - a week before the pair would reach the Australian Open final and quarterfinal respectively. — 05 /26

A fourth Hobart Houdini act saw Garbiñe Muguruza save one match point serving at 5-6 in the third set against Ons Jabeur in round two, winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) - a week before the pair would reach the Australian Open final and quarterfinal respectively.

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For the second time in a year, Yulia Putintseva pulled off a dramatic Fed Cup escape, overturning triple match point at 4-5 in the second set to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in Kazakhstan's Qualifier tie against Belgium. — 06 /26

For the second time in a year, Yulia Putintseva pulled off a dramatic Fed Cup escape, overturning triple match point at 4-5 in the second set to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in Kazakhstan's Qualifier tie against Belgium.

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Maria Sakkari roared back from 2-5 down in the third set against Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round of St. Petersburg, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) after saving one match point as Diatchenko served for the win at 5-2. — 07 /26

Maria Sakkari roared back from 2-5 down in the third set against Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round of St. Petersburg, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) after saving one match point as Diatchenko served for the win at 5-2.

Formula TX

The St. Petersburg quarterfinals saw Elena Rybakina lose the first set to Oceane Dodin from 5-2 up, squandering four set points - but then save two match points serving at 4-5 in the second set to win 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2. — 08 /26

The St. Petersburg quarterfinals saw Elena Rybakina lose the first set to Oceane Dodin from 5-2 up, squandering four set points - but then save two match points serving at 4-5 in the second set to win 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2.

Formula TX

A rollercoaster second round in Dubai saw Simona Halep overcome Ons Jabeur 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) after saving one match point in the deciding tiebreak - taking her own fourth match point and going on to win the title. — 09 /26

A rollercoaster second round in Dubai saw Simona Halep overcome Ons Jabeur 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) after saving one match point in the deciding tiebreak - taking her own fourth match point and going on to win the title.

Jimmie48/WTA

Elena Rybakina became the first player to win from match point down twice in 2020 in round two of Doha over Alison Van Uytvanck, saving one match point in the deciding tiebreak before closing it out 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(8) on her fifth. — 10 /26

Elena Rybakina became the first player to win from match point down twice in 2020 in round two of Doha over Alison Van Uytvanck, saving one match point in the deciding tiebreak before closing it out 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(8) on her fifth.

Daniel Kopatsch

Kaja Juvan saved a remarkable seven match points serving at 4-6, 4-5 against Venus Williams - including triple match point, and one on a Foxtenn challenge - before winning their Acapulco first round 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2. — 11 /26

Kaja Juvan saved a remarkable seven match points serving at 4-6, 4-5 against Venus Williams - including triple match point, and one on a Foxtenn challenge - before winning their Acapulco first round 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

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Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin saved one match point serving at a set and 3-5 down with a drive volley against Jaqueline Cristian in the second round of Lyon, outlasting the surging qualifier 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4. — 12 /26

Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin saved one match point serving at a set and 3-5 down with a drive volley against Jaqueline Cristian in the second round of Lyon, outlasting the surging qualifier 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4.

Alexandre Hergott/Open 6ème Sens

Anastasia Potapova faced triple match point in the second round of Monterrey as Tamara Zidansek served at 6-1, 5-3 - but turned the match on its head to win 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 and reach her third straight quarterfinal. — 13 /26

Anastasia Potapova faced triple match point in the second round of Monterrey as Tamara Zidansek served at 6-1, 5-3 - but turned the match on its head to win 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 and reach her third straight quarterfinal.

Abierto GNP Seguros

The roles reversed in Anastasia Potapova's next match as Johanna Konta saved two match points - one as the Russian served at 5-3 in the final set and another in the ensuing tiebreak - to win their Monterrey quarterfinal 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-6(7). — 14 /26

The roles reversed in Anastasia Potapova's next match as Johanna Konta saved two match points - one as the Russian served at 5-3 in the final set and another in the ensuing tiebreak - to win their Monterrey quarterfinal 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-6(7).

Abierto GNP Seguros

Camila Giorgi had already saved one match point to beat Dayana Yastremska at Strasbourg 2017, and saved two more in the Palermo 2020 quarterfinals as the Ukrainian served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. — 15 /26

Camila Giorgi had already saved one match point to beat Dayana Yastremska at Strasbourg 2017, and saved two more in the Palermo 2020 quarterfinals as the Ukrainian served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3.

Palermo Ladies Open

Irina-Camelia Begu was two points from defeat on four occasions in the second set and saved three match points in the deciding tiebreak before snatching a 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(7) victory over Leonie Kung in the second round of Prague. — 16 /26

Irina-Camelia Begu was two points from defeat on four occasions in the second set and saved three match points in the deciding tiebreak before snatching a 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(7) victory over Leonie Kung in the second round of Prague.

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In a rapid first-round turnaround at the US Open, Aliaksandra Sasnovich saved one match point in the second-set tiebreak before accelerating away from Francesca Di Lorenzo 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-0. — 17 /26

In a rapid first-round turnaround at the US Open, Aliaksandra Sasnovich saved one match point in the second-set tiebreak before accelerating away from Francesca Di Lorenzo 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-0.

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Varvara Gracheva's Grand Slam debut at the US Open took a memorable turn in round two: having trailed Kristina Mladenovic 1-6, 1-5, the Russian saved four match points at 2-5, and won 12 of the last 13 games for a remarkable 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-0 comeback. — 18 /26

Varvara Gracheva's Grand Slam debut at the US Open took a memorable turn in round two: having trailed Kristina Mladenovic 1-6, 1-5, the Russian saved four match points at 2-5, and won 12 of the last 13 games for a remarkable 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-0 comeback.

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Karolina Muchova came back from 3-5 down in the third set, then saved triple match point in the deciding tiebreak - two with bold winners - to defeat Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7) in the third round of the US Open. — 19 /26

Karolina Muchova came back from 3-5 down in the third set, then saved triple match point in the deciding tiebreak - two with bold winners - to defeat Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7) in the third round of the US Open.

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Shelby Rogers saved four match points against Petra Kvitova - three serving at 4-5 in the decider and another when the Czech double faulted in the tiebreak - to defeat her for a second time and reach her first US Open quarterfinal 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6). — 20 /26

Shelby Rogers saved four match points against Petra Kvitova - three serving at 4-5 in the decider and another when the Czech double faulted in the tiebreak - to defeat her for a second time and reach her first US Open quarterfinal 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6).

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For the second week in a row, Aliaksandra Sasnovich pulled off an escape, coming from 3-6, 2-5 down against Zarina Diyas and saving two match points - once each as the Kazakh served for the match twice - to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in round one of Istanbul. — 21 /26

For the second week in a row, Aliaksandra Sasnovich pulled off an escape, coming from 3-6, 2-5 down against Zarina Diyas and saving two match points - once each as the Kazakh served for the match twice - to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in round one of Istanbul.

Gökhan Taner

Serving at 5-6 in the second set, Aliona Bolsova saved one match point before capturing the first Top 30 win of her career in a two-hour, 52-minute 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 epic over Alison Riske in the first round of Rome. — 22 /26

Serving at 5-6 in the second set, Aliona Bolsova saved one match point before capturing the first Top 30 win of her career in a two-hour, 52-minute 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 epic over Alison Riske in the first round of Rome.

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Playing her first Grand Slam and second Tour-level match, 17-year-old former junior World No.1 Clara Tauson saved two match points serving at 5-6 in the decider before taking her fifth to upset Jennifer Brady 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 in round one of Roland Garros. — 23 /26

Playing her first Grand Slam and second Tour-level match, 17-year-old former junior World No.1 Clara Tauson saved two match points serving at 5-6 in the decider before taking her fifth to upset Jennifer Brady 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 in round one of Roland Garros.

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A wild three-hour, 11-minute tussle in the second round of Roland Garros saw Kiki Bertens capture her first win over Sara Errani at the sixth go 7-6(3), 3-6, 9-7 after surviving 10 straight breaks in the deciding set and saving one match point down 5-6. — 24 /26

A wild three-hour, 11-minute tussle in the second round of Roland Garros saw Kiki Bertens capture her first win over Sara Errani at the sixth go 7-6(3), 3-6, 9-7 after surviving 10 straight breaks in the deciding set and saving one match point down 5-6.

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Playing her second Grand Slam main draw, No.159-ranked qualifier Martina Trevisan saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak to stun Maria Sakkari 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros on her debut. — 25 /26

Playing her second Grand Slam main draw, No.159-ranked qualifier Martina Trevisan saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak to stun Maria Sakkari 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros on her debut.

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The first round of Ostrava saw Anett Kontaveit come from a double break down in the third set and save two match points in the tiebreak before pulling out a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) win over Ekaterina Alexandrova, who had served for the win three times. — 26 /26

The first round of Ostrava saw Anett Kontaveit come from a double break down in the third set and save two match points in the tiebreak before pulling out a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) win over Ekaterina Alexandrova, who had served for the win three times.

Jimmie48/WTA