Halep Survives Long Volleys to Face Wozniacki in Aussie Final

When her tennis career is over, Angelique Kerber could easily have a job waiting for her as a broadcast analyst.

Prior to her semi-final match against No 1 Simona Halep, the German mused that because the two knew each other so well, extended points were very likely.

She was right, and they were megapoints. Very entertaining, too.

 

As it happened, Kerber predicted the action, but Halep won the match -- 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 -- and will now face Caroline Wozniacki for the Australian Open championship.

Halep's gotta wonder what's in the water Down Under that sets up long volleys in third sets. She survived a similar battle with Lauren Davis earlier in the tournament.

The deciding set in this match -- which included a 26-volley point -- was nothing short of incredible:

 

Conversely, Wozniacki cruised through her semi-final meeting with Belgium's Elise Mertens in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2):

 

Quick work, indeed.

The second-seeded Dane was there and gone in a flash.

 

Thus, it's No 1 vs No 2 in the final.

Odds are someone's gonna need to set an alarm for Halep. She's had a long tournament already.