Image source: Instagram/@zhengqinwen_tennis
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen fought back from a shaky start to secure her spot in the second round of the U.S. Open. The seventh seed, who made it to the quarter-finals in New York last year, defeated American wildcard Amanda Anisimova with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory on Monday.
The match, held at Louis Armstrong Stadium, lasted two hours and 20 minutes. Despite early struggles with her serve, Zheng Qinwen managed to win 73% of her first-serve points and convert six out of 11 break-point opportunities. However, she was broken four times throughout the match.
“In the beginning, my first serve wasn’t there,” Zheng Qinwen admitted during her on-court interview. “But as the match went on, I started finding my rhythm on the hard court. In the second set, I believed in my shots, became more consistent, and gradually found my rhythm.”
Anisimova got off to a strong start, racing to a 5-1 lead in the first set with a double break. However, Zheng Qinwen fought back, breaking Anisimova at love and saving three set points. Although Anisimova eventually took the first set after breaking Zheng’s serve again, the momentum began to shift.
Zheng Qinwen found her groove in the second set, improving her serve and even delivering four aces in one game to level the score at 2-2. She then broke Anisimova in the next game, gaining the upper hand and eventually closing out the set.
In the final set, Zheng quickly took a 3-0 lead with a double break. Anisimova, who had her left foot treated before the set and showed discomfort in her right hand, couldn’t mount a comeback. Zheng maintained her focus and sealed the win.
Zheng Qinwen now moves on to face Russia’s Erika Andreeva in the next round. Despite only playing two hardcourt matches since winning Olympic gold on clay at Roland Garros, Zheng looks ready for the challenge ahead in New York.
