Zheng submits Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to achieve US Open the second round
China’s Qinwen Zheng cracked the top 10 at the start of the season as she reached her first Grand Slam final (l. Sabalenka) and continues her ascent following her outstanding gold medal-winning singles performance at the Olympics in Paris. The twenty-one-year-old is currently ranked and ranked seventh in the final slam of the season.
Amanda Anisimova of the United States achieved a career high rank of #21 in October 2019. The 22-year-old from New Jersey is climbing the ranks after taking an extended break last season to deal with mental fatigue. She started the year ranked #373 but due to outstanding play during the summer field swing, it currently stands at #50.
After making quarters in DC (l. Dolehide) she sent three heads-15 players except then the number of the world3 Aryna Sabalenka, on her way to the final of WTA 1000 event in Toronto (l. Pegula).
Anisimova reached the third round in New York 2020 while Zheng reached the quarter last year. Under sunny skies at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Anisimova won the forehand and elected to serve. This was their first tournament-level meeting.
The American hit two winners including an ace off the tee and held on 30. Zheng lost 7/10 First serve including a double fault, faced two points and triple break, but held for 1-1 with an ace on the tee and two errors on her opponent’s side.
Associated Press
Anisimova with an aggressive court position hit two backhand winners and held at love, while Zheng continued to fight back and dropped serve when Anisimova pressed a backhand down the line.
Anisimova served a double fault, but with another backhand winner consolidated the break for 4-1. Zheng hit her second ace but dropped serve after three unforced errors from the ground.
Anisimova served for the set but succumbed to the pressure with three straight faults, including two double faults to get the break back. The Australian Open finalist made a series of unforced errors and faced three set points but managed to hold on 3-5 when her opponent erred on the return.
Anisimova’s serve went mione like she lost 5/6 including another double fault and thrown serve when Zheng ripped a forehand inside-out. The gold medalist was serving to level the set 5-5 but faced the fourth set point and conceded it when Anisimova hit a forehand down the line.
Anisimova served first in the second and with a fantastic forehand down the right line, held 30 while Zheng hit two aces and held at love until level. Anisimova has hit three straight back-to-back winners and held it at love 2-1 while Zheng mesmerized the crowd with four aces for 2-2. Anisimova served four unforced errors and dropped serve. Zheng hit an ace out and consolidated the break for 4-2 when her opponent scored the return.
Anisimova hit four groundstroke winners but faced four deuces and four break points before drawing an error to secure the game. Zheng lost 5/8 first serves and faced deuce but with it 10th ace, held for 5-3.
Anisimova did 5/6 first serves and with a spectacular forehand volley, drew an error and held. the world #7 DONE 3/6 serves first, hits an incredible forehand inside and secures the set 6-4 when Anisimova scored the return.
After the end of the second set, Anisimova took a medical leave for her left leg, while Zheng left the court to change clothes. The American served first in the decider and despite doing so 3/5 first serve, faced a double break point and dropped serve.
Zheng lost 3/5 first services, but consolidated rest for 2-0. Anisimova served three unforced errors, faced a double break point and dropped serve as Zheng upped the ante with four straight faults, including a double fault to get the break back.
Anisimova crushed a cross court and consolidated the break for 2-3 as Zheng hit two straight winners, including an ace on the tee, and held easily 4-2.
Time was running out a native Anisimova continued to misfire from the ground and broke serve when she hit another reachable forehand. Zheng hit two winners in a row, including her twelfth ace to reach double match point, and secured it with a good serve out wide.
After two hours and twenty minutes, the seventh seed advanced to the second round. While she did well to regroup after dropping the opening set, going forward she will need to serve better.
Although she won 73% of first serve points, she won alone 44% of second serve points. She escaped 8/12 breakpoints during conversion 6/11 and hit thirty-one winners on thirty-three unforced errors.
Zheng raised her level while Anisimova dropped. Overall, she should be pleased with her performance on the opening day of the final Grand Slam of the season. Waiting for the second round is Erika Andreeva, the talented twenty-year-old from Russia. World’s Biggest Sister #23 Mira Andreeva, Erika has achieved a career high ranking of #75 and is competing in her second US Open. This will be their first tournament-level meeting.
