Booth into second Australian Open final after defeating Taylor-Matthews
Hobart packed out to see one last Fahey vs Riviere battle; Van Der Zwalmen survives Bollerman scare
The heat was dialled up in Hobart both on and off court in a day of impressive performances at the Australian Open semi finals. The day saw fantastic crowds through all the matches with packed out dedans and side galleries throughout.
The first semi final was a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, with Jo See Tan looking to improve upon her double bagel against Claire Fahey. However, the World Champion was on song, keeping her serves tight and not allowing the Australian any width to hit at the galleries or a good ball into the corners. Where Tan did get a chase, Fahey was able to immediately respond with one of her own. Tan struggled to find a good length on her railroad making it easier for Fahey. Tan’s solitary game came in the middle of the second set on the back of some well hit volleys cramping Fahey for room.
The first Open semi final was a highly anticipated affair between Ben Taylor-Matthews and Kieran Booth. The two had previously played in the previous edition in the first round, which had been an upset straight sets victory to the Australian Amateur champion. This year, both started tentatively, but it was Booth who settled faster. Taylor-Matthews was spraying his cut volley high onto the back wall above the penthouse making it all too easy for Booth. Taylor-Matthews also struggled to make progress from the service end as Booth’s roundhouse cut-volley immediately put the world number 4 under pressure into his forehand corner. There were plenty of changes of ends through the first set as the players fought over last gallery chases. Booth maintained the advantage throughout, winning the set with a dedans after a long rally.
Taylor-Matthews changed up his service game going into the second set, taking the pace out of the serve and opting for more under-arm twists and demi-piques than railroads. In particular, he found a good length on his giraffe, nullifying Booth’s cut-volley. Booth remonstrated with himself throughout his unforced errors as the set was within his reach through the first six games. Taylor-Matthews was much faster and cleaner out of the corners through the set as well, playing good shots and keeping the rallies going. Taylor-Matthews took the early lead in the set and held on to level up the match at 1-all.
Taylor-Matthews switched back to the railroad to begin the third set, but even though it was tighter Booth was up for the challenge, carving the ball into the Englishman’s forehand corner. Booth maintained his all out aggression through the third set, and it paid dividends. The result of the set seemed inevitable after Booth reached a 3-0 lead in the set. Taylor-Matthews tried to wrestle back the momentum in the 5-0 game, with a tight and length deuce exchange, but Booth finished it with a winning gallery.
Booth quickly won the first two games of the fourth set as the mountain for Taylor-Matthews became higher and higher to climb. Taylor-Matthews broke his 8-game losing streak by some hard graft. The tension in the match grew and the ralliers grew longer. Both players cut down their unforced errors but winners were hard to find on the Hobart court. It would be the Australian who would handle the pressure better, patrolling the back of the court effectively and not giving Taylor-Matthews any opportunity to lay chases. The final couple of games were tense, but Booth took the match after four set points, booking his place in his second ever Open final.
The second women’s semi final saw battle between the second and third seeds, Lea Van Der Zwalmen and Saskia Bollerman respectively. Bollerman took the game to Van Der Zwalmen, playing aggressive shots and putting the Frenchwoman on the defensive in the corners of the court. Van Der Zwalmen warmed to the challenge, despite dropping a couple of games early she found a way to slowly eek out an advantage in the rally before putting the ball out of reach of Bollerman into the corner. Van Der Zwalmen pushed through the last four games to the set comfortably to win 6/2.
The match hit a rhythm by the second set. Bollerman looked to hit winners and close down the points quickly while Van Der Zwalmen stayed calm and methodical. Bollerman hit several return of serve volleys into the dedans, while anything missed was carved with heavy cut by Van Der Zwalmen, hitting unplayable winners into the corners. The two strategies fought to a draw for the first half of the second set, each player edging ahead one game at a time. Bollerman took advantage of a run at the service end to earn points for a 5-3 lead, but the Frenchwoman was able to lift her game and shut down her Dutch opponent instead. She again had points for 5-4 but couldn’t convert. Instead, Van Der Zwalmen displayed her quality and class as she rounded out the match.
There was not a spare seat in the building to see the last semi final between World Champion Camden Riviere and the man who has his name engraved in the net post of the court, Robert Fahey. It was the 49th time the pair had exchanged barbs on the singles court, with the head to head record standing at 24-all. It was also the first time the two had met since Fahey’s retirement at the British Open in 2022, the first time ever at Hobart and the first time outside a final in over 12 years.
Fahey didn’t give the crowd much to cheer about, barring a ridiculous back-wall boast off a railroad serve. The local hero won just seven points in the first set that lasted fifteen minutes. Riviere controlled the play and read the court well, chasing down anything that Fahey tested him with, rolling in a few railroad nicks for good measure.
Fahey battled his way to the first game of the second set, throwing his hands in the air in ironic celebration. In general, Fahey looked better at the start of the set, rolling back the years with a number of forces. But Riviere refused to let Fahey establish his toehold in the match, as the two thrilled the crowd with their skill and control. Riviere established a solid lead in the set but struggled to close it out. Fahey kept fighting and digging out impossible balls as Riviere let 5 set points go begging. Fahey closed the set down to 5-all. However, after Fahey hit two returns into the net and two long chases, Riviere finally finished off the set.
The temperature on and off court was rising into the third set, but nobody in the crowd wanted to move. The players settled into a pattern of long rallies reminiscent of battles past, not helped by the small targets making it difficult to end the . The heat favoured the younger Riviere as Fahey started to go red in the face. Fahey stayed competitive with Riviere throughout, benefiting from a controversial hazard chase call to reach 3-4. It would not be enough, though, with Rivere maintaining his unbeaten run of finals appearances.
Match results:
Claire Fahey (1) def Jo See Tan 6/0 6/1
Kieran Booth (6) def Ben Taylor-Matthews (2) 6/2 2/6 6/0 6/3
Saskia Bollerman (3) lost to Lea Van Der Zwalmen (2) 2/6 4/6
Camden Riviere (1) def Robert Fahey (4) 6/0 6/5 6/3
Order of play for Sunday (all times AEDT):
11am: Claire Fahey & Saskia Bollerman (1) vs Jo See Tan & Xanthe Ranger
followed by: Camden Riviere & Chris Chapman (1) vs Lewis Williams & John Woods-Casey (3)
followed by: Ange Green & Jacqueline Siu vs Lea Van Der Zwalmen & Jess Garside (2)
Not before 6pm: Kieran Booth & Oliver Pridmore (4) vs Robert Fahey & Ben Taylor-Matthews (2)