This is one match where the extended highlights are a must to watch. So many magical points, so many fierce battles between exceptional competitors all the way to that insane match point.
That half volley dig for an inside-out winner by Hsieh was absolutely sick. You could see the thought in Mertens' eyes ... 'Man, I thought I got you killed! '😂
This was just an incredible tennis match. Congrats to all the ladies. Hsieh was at her legendary best in the 3rd set. The force was strong with her and it was mind blowing to see some of the key shots she made and how she was able to read the play 2-3 shots before. Its effin super natural. She even played a big part in Mertens amazing match point. They are a great team and hope to see them pair up regularly in 24.
Hunter and Siniakova were an aggressive team with powerful serves, accurate overheads, and deadly volleys. But it was 38 years old Hsieh’s lobs, passing shots at the baseline, and quick hands at the net together with Mertens’ relentless and consistent rally at the baseline that showed who was the better team in the end after a grueling, edge-of-the-seat, and two hours and forty minutes battle.
Tbh this is definitely not the best performance by Hsieh Mertens pair (if you watched the full match). Hsieh made so many UE at the net, unlike other times. But the pair adjusted themselves and slowed down the pace in the first set, literally just returned the shots with the opponents pace, and the opponents finally made even more UE and lost the first set. The pair only really picked it up in the third set. Good luck for the final. Please bring the slam home (Hsieh is incredible, she won 2 slams in a row, and a semi final, and now another final, with all different partners. If you want a good result in double, find Hsieh)
Shieh lacks power & speed but her ability to be consistent in getting the ball (if she gets to it) back to your half of the court is next level, by her patented, 2-handed "flipping" skills from her hip, using 2 hands, on both sides. You will have to over-power Hsieh, with speed and/or with sharp angle shots, if you want to win a point against her.
@@MadmanGoneMad2012 I am not at all saying it was all Hsieh. Mertens played really well also. Her little pop lob was ver Hsieh like. But how many errors did Hseih draw from positioning. In doubles the player may not even touch the ball in the rally yet can play a HUGE part in winning the point.
@@mnztr1 the fact that Mertens emerged with winners all over the court, and are more in numbers than Hsieh's speaks for itself, not to mention the many rallies that Hsieh dropped . It wasn't her day, but at least she made up for it in the last crucial stretch of the third set. Mertens' resilience in the first set deserves recognition. Their opponents made them work for this win. I'm certain the final will be a tad bit easier.
@@MadmanGoneMad2012 I don't think you really understand how the doubles game is played. Hsieh was often a key factor without even touching the ball, just by positioning herself and taking options away that allowed Mertens to receive weaker shots. She got the break point in set 3 and made a great defensive volley of a wicked attempted passing shot that set up Mertens brilliant match point. Both ladies played great and got their jobs done when it mattered,
Nice. This is the first match of the AO on this channel that I didn't' know the winner based on the thumbnail. Love it. Why couldn't this have happened from the start of the tournament?
did Elise dump Hunter? I thought it was a mutual decision? But don’t understand how they ended up to be so bitchy after seeing several interview of them declaring their friendship and chemistry.😂
Yea I don’t know why they parted. And they were still partners just a couple of months ago, and now a cold handshake I’m quite interested to know how these ladies part and pair up. Like how they work
@@pirate123166 well in a Belgian newspaper she declared that they are still friends, however they didn’t agree anymore on certain tactics which is the reason they swapped partners. Anyway we will never get to the real stories but indeed it’s interesting to know more about the topic.
@@jelle1132 From their finals press conference I dont think Mertens dumped Hunter. Mertens messaged Hsieh after her split with Hunter, not even knowing whether Hsieh already had a partner or not.
I don't know who's idea was it to split out of Siniakova and Babs but if it was Siniakova - this is what she deserves haha. If it were Babs/Sini vs Mertens/Hsieh - I'd root for the Czech's but not this match up. Funny that Siniakova beat her old doubles partner but the next match Hunter then lost to hers in Mertens. I love Elise and Su Wei. Go get the title girls although I do love Ostapenko too
That's just doubles tennis. The baseliner don't just send the ball to the net-player willy-nilly. You can see that Mertens(the baseliner) was avoiding Hunter at the net like the plague. 😂
Great match. Hate to see hsieh retire, but if you’re having your swan song, ending with a final appearance in 2 events in a major is the way to go… well except for winning both. Hope she changes her mind after this. Wimbledon is looking good with merkens
Mertens was very poor whole match. It took that magical shot in the end from Hsieh su-wei for them to get over the line. Hit the ball to mertens and win the trophy is what the coach should say to opposition in final. But ofc i want Hsieh su-wei to win double doubles trophy if you know what i mean.
Mertens was better here to be honest. When Hsieh was at the baseline, they all tried to hammer her instead of Mertens - of course Hsieh was much more breakable at the baseline than at net. Mertens hit less flashy shots as one would do at the baseline but she basically was the foundation of such. She also had a rather solid net play when needed
Mertens was absolutely better than Hsieh throughout the match, she hit some real clutch shots, especially clutch serves. Hunter and Siniakova were targeting Hsieh more than Mertens. They're a team, why be so negative?
you doofus, she was the MVP of this match! Watch the whole of it again! Though it was an intense and fantastic match worth rewatching on that basis alone, you would notice how Mertens carried that first set.
Yes, I was expecting a better handshake at the end. I'm assuming the Krejcikova and Siniakova split happened before Hunter and Mertens split, but I have no idea.
@@2434ecilaI wanted to know how these ladies pair work. Hsieh was with Strycova and won against Mertens and Hunter in Wimbledon final last year. And now they paired up again Who dumped who?
@@pirate123166 Sorry, this will be a long reply. Hsieh was with Mertens in 2021 to early 2022. Hsieh wanted to take a break from tennis in 2022, she and Mertens ended their partnership on good terms. In 2023 (French Open), Hsieh wanted to return to tennis, she asked Wang because no one she partnered with before was free or interested, and she is on good terms with most Chinese tennis players. Strycova wanted to end her career 'on her own terms', not because she got pregnant. So, her way of doing that was by making a 'small comeback.’ Strycova didn’t have any intentions of returning full-time, she just wanted to dictate her own career ending. Strycova wanted Wimbledon to be her last tournament, so she asked Hsieh like during the French Open to be her partner for Wimbledon, because they are good friends. Wang didn’t mind because she’s more singles focused, not doubles focused. Wang and Hsieh played 2023 US Open together, and they do pretty well. Around mid-November 2023, Siniakova and Krejcikova split, it was reported (by an ex-czech player) there had been tension between the two for a while and it was Siniakova who initiated the split. Other pairs were also splitting, such as Fernandez/Townsend, Siegemund/Zvonareva, Hunter/Mertens. To be clear, I have no idea clear evidence why Hunter and Mertens split. I’m guessing because Siniakova was planning on splitting, she was also scouting for a new partner for when she finally asked for the split. Maybe she wanted Hunter because she was the doubles number 1, and maybe Hunter also thought Siniakova would be a fantastic partner because of her past successes with Krejicikova (in 2022, Krejicova and Siniakova won Aus, Wimbledon and US Open). I feel like Mertens wouldn’t end the partnership and if she did it would have been on good terms, because she has good relations with ex-partners like Sabalenka, Schurrs and Hsieh. Additionally, Mertens has good locker-room rapport. Mertens and Kudtermetova weren’t on good terms when they split, but it was reported that Kudermetova was the one who ended it with Mertens. So, I’m guessing it’s the same situation. Hunter ended it with Mertens which is why they’re not on good terms.
@@pirate123166 Hsieh was with Strycova during Wimbledon because that was Stycova's final tournament and she asked Hsieh because they're good friends. Both Hunter and Mertens said they parted with no issues, but clearly there's something. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Hunter ended their partnership because Siniakova was on the market. This is just a guess though. Because if Mertens was gonna leave Hunter why not do it before or at the US Open? I wrote another comment earlier but I think google marked it as spam so it's not showing up.
@@jerryzhang6988 It may be annoying but did not change anything at all. You can see Sinniakova tried to chase the ball with her full speed but the ball was too far from her.
