Golden State: Zheng beats Anisimova in opening match of US Open

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, August 26, 2024

NEW YORK—A historic rise in Paris forced Zheng Qinwen to avoid a fall in Flushing Meadows.

American Amanda Anisimova won comfortably in five of the first six games before Zheng turned the tables at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

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Olympic gold medalist Zheng improved her game and overtook Anisimova.

Zheng hit eight of her twelve aces in the second set, defeating Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and advancing to the second round of the US Open.

“Obviously she hit the ball well today,” Zheng said of Anisimova afterward. “She hit every ball sideways and at the beginning every ball went in sideways. And I couldn’t do anything and at the beginning I didn’t have a first serve either.”

“But the longer the match goes on, the more I find my rhythm on the hard court. I really think that my shots are very helpful, I have become more consistent and also [higher] percent on my serve. And little by little I got into the rhythm. But I want to do a good job for Anisimova. She performed really well on the court.

Seventh-seeded Zheng said her goal for the US Open was to maintain the high level of play she showed when she consecutively defeated world number one Iga Swiatek and Donna Vekic to make history as the first Chinese woman to win a singles title in tennis.

“After Australia, I had a lot of ups and downs because I lost motivation, as I can say. I’m different in training,” Zheng said. “And after winning Olympic gold, the first thing I told myself was that I want to keep the motivation up. I don’t want to slack off again.”

“I really want to improve mentally again. That means I can maintain the level when I’m champion and just keep winning, winning and winning, instead of letting up and allowing myself to lose an easy game.”

“If I can do that, I think I’ll really break through a wall that I’ve built up for myself. I’m just trying to work really hard on my mental side. I hope I can do just as well this time.”

In one of the most eagerly awaited opening matches of the tournament, Toronto finalist Anisimova hit flat drives into the corners and took advantage of Zheng’s running forehand to build a one-set lead.

As the match progressed, Zheng’s shots became more precise and his serves more confident.

With an effective, long serve, Zheng won 73 percent of her points with her first serve, compared to 62 percent from Anisimova, who underwent treatment for an apparent blister on her left foot before the start of the deciding set.

Zheng was better in the final set. The Australian Open finalist won 12 of the first 15 points and took a 3-0 lead in the final set.

Zheng, the WTA Most Improved Player 2023, will face Erika AndreevaSister of Mirra Andreeva in round two.

Erika Andreeva hit eight aces and Yue Yuan 6-3, 7-6(6).

China’s Wang Yafan took over the opening set of Maria Sakkari 6-2 when the ninth-seeded Greek apparently retired due to a shoulder injury. Sakkari, a 2021 US Open finalist, has only managed one win in her last three appearances at Flushing Meadows.

Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic defeated Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-4. Wimbledon semi-finalist Vekic plays Magdalena Frech or Greetings Minnen next.

No. 27-set Elina Svitolina stopped Mary Lourdes Carle 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.