U.S. Open Day One Recap: Gold Medalist Zheng Comes Back to Beat Anisimova
Fresh off of her Gold Medal triumph at the Paris Olympics, China’s Qinwen Zheng is in pursuit of her first major title. She moved one step closer towards that goal as she came back to defeat American Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first match on Louis Armstrong on Monday.
“It’s very difficult match for a first round,” Zheng said. “She’s a tough opponent to face, but I’m glad at the end I found a way to [get] through the match and win this match.”
Zheng said this was the type of match she has been prone to losing in the past, coming off such a big success this summer. But she was proud of the way she could refocus, and improve on the mental side of her tennis.
“It’s the typical match I will lose, especially after huge success, because as I know myself, usually after huge success I will get a little bit too high, and until the reality slap me down again and I come back to the ground and trying to be humble and work hard,” she said. “So this time when I get a success, I’m telling myself, I don’t want to let this happen. I’m going to continue working hard, keep the stable mindset. I’m really happy to get this match, because she’s really tough to face. Like you see, she’s in the final of Toronto. I think one of her best surfaces is on hard court. To win this match which means I make one step forward in my mental side.”
Up next for the seventh-seed is 20-year-old Erika Andreeva, who defeated China’s Yue Yan in her opener on Monday.
Defending champion Coco Gauff kicked off her title defense with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over France’s Varvara Gracheva, needing just over an hour to book her place in the second round. Gauff saved all eight break points she faced and took advantage of 25 unforced errors from her opponent.
“I think [being] even-keeled, just focusing on the match in front of me and not looking too far ahead or too far behind. Obviously getting through the first round like this is good. Last year I had three sets in my first round her, so it kind of doesn’t matter,” she said. “I mean, I’ve learned that you can start a tournament, but it doesn’t mean how you’re necessarily going to finish, and vice-versa. I think [it’s about] just staying in the moment.”
In the second round, Gauff will face veteran German Tatiana Maria, who won in straight sets over Argentina qualifier Solana Sierra.
Gauff’s opponent in last year’s U.S. Open final, Aryna Sabalenka, got off to a fast start in her 2024 campaign in Flushing Meadows as she defeated Australia’s Priscilla Hon 6-3, 6-3. Sabalenka fired 27 winners and was broken just once to advance in one hour and 19 minutes.
The second-seed will take on Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti next.
Clara Burel of France came back to defeat former champion Sloane Stephens 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, and will take on 20th seed Victoria Azarenka next.
Other winners on the women’s side on Monday included eighth-seed and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, 12th seed Daria Kasatkina, 13th seeded American Emma Navarro, 24th seed Donna Vekic, 26th seed Paula Badosa, 27th seed Elina Svitolina and American Taylor Townsend.
