Bellis Comes Back To Reach U.S. Open Third Round

August 31, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff

American qualifier CiCi Bellis continued her U.S. Open run on Wednesday, battling back from a set down to beat fellow American Shelby Rogers 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

“I think in the first set I didn’t have a lot of rhythm. The points were kind of quick. [I] couldn’t really get my feet involved in my game very much,” Bellis said of her slow start. “In the second, I just told myself from the beginning my feet need to way faster, I need to be way sharper to come back and win that.

Obviously she’s such a great player. I lost to her before. I think just being really focused and getting my feet involved and getting really pumped up is how I did it.”

It was a slow start for Bellis, who fell behind 0-2 early. She would get the opening set back on serve, but Roger would win the final four games of the set helped out by 12 unforced errors from Bellis.

The tide turned in the second, as Bellis cut down on her errors and Rogers’ errors began to pile up. Bellis gave herself nine break points, converting on three of them, to take the second set in 44 minutes.

That theme continued into the third set, as Bellis committed just seven unforced errors and hit nine winners, breaking twice to complete the comeback victory and advance.

Bellis now moves on to play second-seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber.

Madison Keys cruised past American teenager Kayla Day 6-1, 6-1 to advance, setting up a matchup with Naomi Osaka.

French Open champion Garbine Muguruza’s struggles continued, as she was shocked by Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. The 48th ranked Sevastova hung on to beat Muguruza 7-5, 6-4 to set up a matchup with Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
Pointset

March/April 2024 Digital Edition