Jule Niemeier bravely fought for every point, used her great power and let Julia Putinzewa’s distraction maneuvers bounce off coolly: The 23-year-old from Dortmund scored on hers US Open-Debut jumped straight into the third round.
On Thursday (01.09.2022) Niemeier prevailed 6: 4, 6: 3 against the dangerous and hot-headed Kazakh with a highly concentrated performance and continues to hold up the German flag in New York.
“super satisfied”
Niemeier was happy after the game at “Eurosport”: “I felt extremely comfortable on the pitch, even though I was quickly 3-0 down. I just tried to focus on the important things and not get nervous. When I came here I thought I had to play qualifiers. Now I’m in the third round – of course I’m really happy with that.”
The world ranking 108th, who now meets Zheng Qinwen (China) on Saturday, prevented that for the first time since 2009 there was no German player at the last Grand SlamTournament of the Year passes second round. Previously, for the first time since 1984, all German starters were eliminated in the men’s singles.
Swiatek in an urgent procedure in round three
Title favorite Iga Swiatek has moved into the third round of the US Open in an urgent procedure. The 21-year-old gave Sloane Stephens, who won the title in 2017, no chance in her 6-3, 6-2 win. Swiatek now meets Lauren Davis of the USA and continues to have her second major triumph of the year after the French Open in view.
Olympic champion Belinda Bencic had more problems than the world number one. The Swiss prevailed 3:6, 7:5, 6:2 in 2:27 playing time against Sorana Cirstea from Romania, who eliminated Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) in the first round.
No handshake between Azarenka and Kostyuk
After their second round match, the tennis players Viktoria Asarenka and Marta Kostjuk refrained from shaking hands, which is otherwise customary. Two-time Grand Slam tournament winner Azarenka of Belarus and Ukraine’s Kostyuk instead said goodbye at the net with a racquet touch. Azarenka won the game 6:2, 6:3 and advanced to the third round.
At the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, Russian and Belarusian athletes are eligible to start on grass in Wimbledon, unlike before.
Alcaraz without problems
World number one Iga Swiatek showed no weaknesses. The Pole prevailed 6: 3, 6: 2 against the American Sloane Stephens. Swiatek would be a possible round of 16 opponent for Germany’s last tournament hope, Jule Niemeier. For Paula Badosa, who is number four, the tournament is already over. The Spaniard lost 7: 6 (7: 5), 1: 6, 2: 6 against the Croatian Petra Martic.
Shooting star Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, made it into the third round without much effort. The 19-year-old Spaniard defeated Argentina’s Federico Coria 6-2, 6-1, 7-5. On Saturday Jenson Brooksby from the USA is waiting as the next opponent on the fourth in the world rankings.