Qinwen Zheng is up and running at the US Open as she overcame Amanda Anisimova in three sets to advance to the second round.
The 21-year-old went on an emphatic run to this year’s Australian Open final, cementing her status inside the top 10 of the WTA rankings. However, she then struggled to continue the momentum throughout the remainder of the hard court season.
So, when Zheng added an Olympic gold medal to her impressive resume in Paris this summer, many wondered if she would be able to keep up the imposing form that led her there.
It seemed as if it would be déjà vu for the Chinese star when she tumbled out of the Cincinnati Masters in the second round, but she is off the mark at the US Open with a well-fought win over an in-form Anisimova.
It is a win that will ease her into the tournament nicely as she bids to better her quarter-final run of 12 months ago.
Qinwen Zheng ‘slapped’ back to reality in time for the US Open
Anisimova, who took a break from tennis last year, was coming into her native grand slam off fresh off the back of impressive runs in Washington and Toronto.
So, the American was not someone that Zheng wanted to see as her first-round opponent. But, after losing the first set, the world number seven regrouped to neutralize the threat posed.
Following the match, Zheng spoke of the importance of returning well to the tour considering her dazzling run at the Olympics.
“It’s the typical match I will lose, especially after huge success,” Zheng said of her 4-6 6-4 6-2 win. “I know myself, usually after huge success I will get a little bit too high until the reality slaps me down again.
“Then I come back to the ground and try to be humble and work hard. So, this time, when I achieve success, I’m telling myself ‘I don’t want to let this happen’.
“I’m going to continue working hard and keep a stable mindset. I’m really happy to get this match because she’s really hard to face, she was in the final of Toronto, and one of her best surfaces is hard court, so winning this match means I am one step forward on my mental side.”
Zheng will be a threat at Flushing Meadows
Zheng has proven more than capable on multiple surfaces, having reached the final in Melbourne and then registering an 11-match win streak on clay which saw her defend her Palermo title before soaring to glory at the Paris Games.
After a slow transition onto the North American hard courts, Zheng appears to have sparked a return to form at the US Open after an inspired comeback.
Nearby in her quarter of the draw sits world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who is peaking at just the right time to avenge the loss she suffered in last year’s final.
However, Zheng would relish a meeting with the Belarusian in a bid to avenge the pain inflicted on her in her maiden major final in Melbourne in January.
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