WHAT HAPPENED: Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen overcame resurgent American Amanda Anisimova Monday 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to boost her US Open title credentials on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Talk of a 'notable' first round undersold this clash between two of the most in-form players on tour in recent months. This battle delivered and more.
Australian Open finalist Zheng escaped from three break points in her opening service game, but the home charge found more and more success striking cleanly, with plenty of the conviction, well within the baseline, alongside canny forays to the net to race out to 5-1 up.
Three set points came and went, Zheng capitalized upon some loose strokes to earn 5-4. Undeterred, Anisimova pounced at 30-30 with relentless hitting, arrowing a forehand winner to cap an absorbing opening set.
"She was hitting the ball really good today, everything was going to the side and in at the beginning. I couldn't do anything," Zheng said post-match.
But flipping the script, the world No.7 started to dominate proceedings.
In set two, Zheng catapulted four aces in one game for 2-2. Then a moment zooming around social media witnessed a Zheng backhand return on the stretch, loop up high, which landed within a racquet's reach of the net. The backspin bamboozled Anisimova as the ball bounced back onto Zheng's side, with the 22-year-old unable to make contact.
It provided the turning point, as Zheng went onto break.
"The further the match goes I started to find my rhythm on the hard court. In the second set I really believed in my shots," Zheng continued. "I started to be more consistent and found more percentage in my serve. Little by little I got into it, I want to say a really good job from Amanda."
Plenty of rallies witnessed both players punish anything in the mid-court and Zheng's searing serve began to tell the difference. Rock solid in the pivotal exchanges, the No. 7 seed forced a decider.
Anismova called for the trainer at the sitdown with padding applied to an already heavily strapped left foot. The American's fans would have been concerned, too, with Zheng finding the angles off the groundstrokes to soon 3-0 on the scoreboard.
Anisimova's effortless timing on a forehand winner helped erase one break, but Zheng now-elite status was soon proven on a scorching day in Armstrong.
WHAT IT MEANS: Simply put, Zheng can handle the heat. Anisimova on any day can beat any player and Zheng found a way.
“It's the typical match I will lose [before], 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,” Zheng said.
“I say, everything starts zero. You are not anymore Olympic champion. Just be humble and trying to work, fight every single match, because if you don't fight, you have a big chance you lose.
“I'm going to continue working hard, keep the stable mindset. To win this match means I make one step forward in my mental side.”
2022 WTA Newcomer of the Year, 2023 WTA Most Improved Player of the Year, 2024 Australian Open finalist: the hype over Zheng has been building at some pace. The 'first Chinese woman since Li Na' milestones keep coming, and now, she's well and truly in the spotlight.
Saving match point to down Emma Navarro, edging former world No.1 Angelique Kerber in a third-set tiebreak, outclassing world No.1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 on the way to a 6-2, 6-3 gold medal final triumph over Donna Vekic was a run that proved Zheng is primed for a major success.
The next step will be a second-round clash with world No. 75 Erika Andreeva, who edged Zheng's compatriot Yuan Yue 6-3, 7-6(7) earlier on Monday.
MATCH POINT: Zheng's gold medal hasn't traveled with her to New York. It’s safely stowed back home in China. But what has transferred to the Big Apple is her belief.
"It is an unbelievable feeling, I went through six tough matches, playing every day in a row. Even now I don’t know how my mental strength goes, I just kept pushing. That was an unbelievable journey for me," the 21-year-old said.
It seems Paris has provided the perfect launchpad for forward-thinking Zheng.
"I want to stay playing the US Open, I'm happy what I did in the past, but right now I just want to focus on here."
