WHAT HAPPENED: American Amanda Anisimova’s late summer has been a mixed bag. But since arriving at the season’s last major, her tennis bag is filled with nothing but victories.
The No. 8-seeded Anisimova is bound for the US Open quarterfinals after beating Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-0, 6-3, inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night. Those summer bummers have dissipated for Anisimova and now it’s good vibrations, indeed.
“It was so great to be back on this court,’’ said Anisimova, who had 27 winners to her rival’s five. “It’s been a few years since I played here and it’s an incredible atmosphere.”
Since Anisimova was routed by Iga Swiatek in this year’s Wimbledon final, it’s been a tough sledding. She notched just two wins in two tournaments as she wrestled with her All England Club disappointment. But all that bad mojo has become a foggy memory since arriving in New York City.
She had few issues with the left-handed Haddad Maia, the No. 18 seed, when producing a fast start that startled and unsettled the Brazilian player. Anisimova broke Haddad Maia in the first game and her play accelerated from there. She never gave Haddad Maia a chance, serving well and pounding pinpoint and deep two-handed backhands around the court.
Haddad Maia scored only 10 points in the opening set, one in which she was broken twice and saw Anisimova make 77% of her first serves. Mix up those ingredients and the result is a New York Bagel.
The second set was more competitive, as Anisimova was challenged in her quest to extend her best US Open showing in her career.
“It’s the Round of 16, and there are going to be nerves, especially against Bia who is such a tough opponent,’’ said Anisimova, who converted six of her 18 break-point chances. “You have to stay really mentally strong.”
Haddad Maia again was broken to start the frame, but then collected a break of her own, after losing seven straight games. But Anisimova broke right back, wiggled from a break point in the fourth game and, despite Haddad Maia’s grit, broke her in the final game to push through to the finish line.
“Once I came out here... I love playing on big stages,’’ Anisimova said. “I played so freely out here. I was just really enjoying it and I’m really happy I was able to put on a good performance today.’’
WHAT IT MEANS: Anisimova, who also advanced to the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2019, ran her Grand Slam record to 42-22 with her win over Haddad Maia and improved her career-best season mark to 35-14.
Her reward is facing the No. 2-seeded Swiatek in the quarterfinals in only their second meeting. Anisimova is looking for revenge, as it was Swiatek who beat her in this summer’s Wimbledon final, with Anisimova not winning a game in the straight-set takedown.
“Who would have thought we would be meeting again so soon,’’ Anisimova said. “I’m just very excited and it’s going to be a great match, I hope, this time. But I’m feeling good and she is playing some great tennis. So I really hope that we put on a great performance.”
Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, owns six Grand Slam singles titles.
MATCH POINT: When Anisimova went to the Wimbledon final, she was not only the first American finalist since Serena Williams (2019) to reach it, but also the youngest player to advance that far, at age 23, since Williams (22) in 2004.
