Gabi Ruse versus Jessika Ponchett Quarter Final

Friday 18th April Approx 1400 🇬🇧 1600 🇷🇴

Live Text Commentary for the Whole Match

In loving Memory of @philipboosey of @wta_romania 🇷🇴♥️

Good afternoon everyone, welcome to the live text commentary, players are warming up. Ponchett won the toss and chose to serve first. Live text updates and scores coming your way so keep refreshing and keep up to date – Haide Gabs!

1-0 Ponchett has arrived at the party with a lot of energy swinging her one handed backhand freely. She sets herself up for a lovely forehand cross court winner which kisses the line but a double fault opens the door for Gabi and she piles on the pressure with her powerful backhand drives and thumping forehands. She manufactures a break point which Ponchett snubs out quickly. We then find ourselves in an early deuce duel. More Ruse Rockets fire and we get to another break point. Gabi dictates play from the baseline eventually forcing the error from the one handed backhand as Ponchett goes long and Gabi breaks! What a start! Strap in folks this one is fun!

2-1 Gabi holds to 15, excellent serving from the Romanian some big first serves and powerful forehands to back them up. She’s dialled in early. Ponchett starting to feel the pressure from Ruse and starts with a double fault. Again Gabi is outpowering her opponent, a slice backhand gets what it deserves on return for 30-30 but Ponchett scrambles out of the game for a crucial hold.

4-1 Gabi starts with an aggressive point but just overcooks a forehand to lose the first point but levels up quickly for 15-15 great attitude as always she has the balance of play spot on so far and powers through another service game with confidence. It is hard to see Ponchett getting inside these service games. Relentless Ruse is going to get used a lot if she keeps this going. Gabi pounces early for 0-30. Ponchett gets in the game but a backhand error gives Gabi two break points. She then runs around the forehand but that one also crashes into the net. Double break for Gabi now, she is suffocating the French player.

5-2 More strong serving from Gabi as Ponchett is starting to look lost at sea, making a lot of errors now and unable to contain the sheer power of Ruse. Gabi takes the pressure into Ponchett’s next service game and soon has her at 30-30 again yet Ponchett survives for now. The brief is simple for Gabi next, keep doing what she is doing on serve!

6-2 Pressure what Pressure? Another immaculate service game and to love! One set up in 34 minutes she has been outstanding so far. Let’s go Gabs!

6-2 1-0 The Ruse rush continues. Ponchett searching the well of creativity for fresh ideas goes for a half decent drop shot but even then Gabi is there too! Another break point and Gabi powers through it with big hitting. Set two has started, try not to blink!

6-2 3-0 I do love a single handed backhand and there are some lovely looking strokes from Ponchett but Gabi is punching the hell out of them. Ponchett puts a little pressure on Gabi’s serve for 40-30 but a big wide second serve forces the backhand return into the net as Gabi charges on. Ponchett could use a rain delay it’s a pity we are indoors. The brilliant forehand winner from Ponchett in the very first game is a distant memory now as it continues to let her down as another error delivers two more break points. A cute backhand winner into the corner of the court saves the first but Gabi has her Jaws locked in on her prey and is not letting her go! Double break again! If it was a boxing match they would have to stop it.

6-2 4-1 Hold on Ponchett is starting to loosen up a brilliant backhand down the line serves up two break points. Gabi still bossing from the baseline saves the first but a sublime cross court winner from the single hander seals the deal and she recovers one break to make it interesting. The backhands are starting to look very good now. Very important Gabi holds her intensity levels as her opponent is starting to wake up. The French crowd are starting to pick up too as Ponchett heads towards a game point, it was like library in set one. However despite her opponent’s resilience Gabi fights through deuce to earn another break point which she converts with a crunching inside in forehand. The double break is restored and the Romanian is in full charge once more. But there were a few warning shots from Ponchett in those last couple of games.

6-2 5-2 Do you remember the sneaky drop shot Ponchett tried in set one? Well Gabi shows her how it’s done with a drop shot of rich finesse. Everything she is touching is turning to gold as she storms to a 5-1 lead in set two. Ponchett races to 40-0 on serve but Gabi is not having it and sends a booming backhand down the line winner on the next point. Ponchett does hold but Gabi will serve for the match!

6-2 6-2 Little bit of drama in the last game, Ponchett races to 0-30 lead but Gabi battles back and she had a match point at 40-30 and thought she had sealed the deal with an Ace yet unfortunately the umpire came down from the chair checked the mark and it was out. A double fault followed and then Gabi had to save a break point but eventually closed the match for a brilliant win. Ponchett showed flashes of excellence to justify her great run this week but overall Gabi was simply too good! She out played and out powered her. She’s looked strong and confident all week. Good luck in the semi finals Gabs – Never Surrender!!!!!