Zheng subdues Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach US Open second round

Qinwen Zheng of China cracked the top ten at the start of the season after reaching her maiden grand slam final (l. Sabalenka) and continues her ascent following her remarkable gold medal-winning performance in singles at the Paris Olympics. The twenty-one-year-old is currently ranked and seeded seventh at the season’s final slam.

Amanda Anisimova from the United States reached a career-high rank of #21 in October 2019. The twenty-two-year-old from New Jersey is reascending the rankings after an extended leave last season to address mental fatigue. She began the year ranked #373 but due to exceptional play during the summer hardcourt swing, currently sits at #50.

After making the quarters in DC (l. Dolehide) she dispatched three top-15 players in addition to then world #3 Aryna Sabalenka, en route to the final of the WTA 1000 event in Toronto (l. Pegula).  

Anisimova reached the third round in New York in 2020 while Zheng reached the quarters last year. Under sunny skies in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Anisimova won the toss and elected to serve. This was their first tour-level meeting.

The American struck two winners including an ace up the tee and held to 30. Zheng missed 7/10 first serves including a double fault, faced two deuce and triple break point but held for 1-1 with an ace up the tee and two forehand errors from her opponent.

Associated Press

Anisimova with an aggressive court position struck two backhand winners and held at love while Zheng continued to struggle and dumped serve when Anisimova crushed the backhand return down the line.

Anisimova gifted a double fault but with another backhand winner consolidated the break for 4-1. Zheng hit her second ace but dropped serve following three unforced errors off the ground.

Anisimova served for the set but succumbed to the pressure with three consecutive errors including two double faults to give back the break. The Australian Open finalist gifted a slew of unforced errors and faced three set points yet managed to hold for 3-5 when her opponent mishit the return.

Anisimova’s serve went m. i.a as she missed 5/6 including another double fault and dumped serve when Zheng ripped a forehand inside-out. The gold medal winner was serving to level the set at 5-5 but faced a fourth set point and conceded it when Anisimova pummeled a forehand down the line.

Anisimova served first in the second and with a fantastic forehand down the line, held to 30 while Zheng struck two aces and held at love to level. Anisimova struck three consecutive backhand winners and held at love for 2-1 while Zheng mesmerized the crowd with four aces for 2-2. Anisimova gifted four unforced errors and dumped serve. Zheng struck an ace out wide and consolidated the break for 4-2 when her opponent netted the return.

Anisimova hit four groundstroke winners but faced four deuce and four break points before extracting an error to secure the game. Zheng missed 5/8 first serves and faced deuce but with her 10th ace, held for 5-3.

Anisimova made 5/6 first serves and with a barrage of spectacular forehands, drew an error and held. The world #7 made 3/6 first serves, hit an exceptional inside-in forehand, and secured the set 6-4 when Anisimova netted the return.  

Following the conclusion of the second set, Anisimova received a medical timeout for her left foot while Zheng left the court to change outfits. The American served first in the decider and despite making 3/5 first serves, faced a double break point and dropped serve.

Zheng missed 3/5 first serves yet consolidated the break for 2-0. Anisimova donated three unforced errors, faced a double break point, and dumped serve while Zheng upped the ante with four consecutive errors including a double fault to give back the break.

Anisimova crushed a forehand crosscourt and consolidated the break for 2-3 while Zheng hit two consecutive winners including an ace up the tee and held easily for 4-2.

Time was running out for the NJ native. Anisimova continued to misfire off the ground and dropped serve when she netted another makeable forehand. Zheng hit two consecutive winners including her twelfth ace to reach double match point and secured it with a well-struck serve out wide.

After two hours and twenty minutes, the seventh seed progressed 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 only 44% of second-serve points. She saved 8/12 break points while converting 6/11 and hit thirty-one winners to thirty-three unforced errors.

Zheng raised her level while Anisimova’s dropped. Overall, she should be pleased with her performance on opening day of the season’s final grand slam. Awaiting in the second round is Erika Andreeva, the talented twenty-year-old from Russia. The older sister of world #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 tour-level meeting.