US Open: Svitolina, Qinwen survive scare

New York, August 26

Reigning Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen overcame early serving woes to move into the second round of the US Open with a hard-fought 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over American wildcard Amanda Anisimova.

Ukraine’s 27th seed Elina Svitolina, a semifinalist in 2019, advanced to the second round with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina.

Seventh seed Zheng, a quarterfinalist last year, won 73 per cent of her first-serve points and converted six of her 11 break-point chances during a two hour 20-minute match at Louis Armstrong Stadium where she was broken four times.

Russian 12th seed Daria Kasatkina eased into the second round with a 6-2 6-4 win over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.

Former champion Dominic Thiem’s final appearance at the US Open ended tamely after he was beaten 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the first round by American Ben Shelton.

The Austrian has struggled to reproduce the form that carried him to the 2020 Flushing Meadows title and announced he would retire from the sport this season after being troubled by a wrist injury in recent years.

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev, the losing finalist in 2020, beat compatriot Maximilian Marterer 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round.

French 17th seed Ugo Humbert moved into the second round after a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.