US Open 2021: Top seed Ashleigh Barty made to work in 1st spherical win over lower-ranked Vera Zvonareva

The top-seeded Australian took the primary set in 24 minutes however was made to grind within the second by 36-year-old Russian Vera Zvonareva, who compelled a tiebreak earlier than falling 9-7. Barty received the Wimbledon earlier this season. (Reuters Photo)HIGHLIGHTSBarty got here out firing on all cylinders and raced to a 3-0 lead in a rapid-fire opening setBut what appeared to be a simple afternoon for Barty turned tense in a grinding second setBarty has received 5 tournaments this season, together with a second Grand Slam at WimbledonWorld primary Ash Barty was made to sweat for a 6-1 7-6(7) win over Thirty fifth-ranked Vera Zvonareva and a spot within the second spherical of the US Open on Tuesday.

The top-seeded Australian got here out firing on all cylinders and raced to a 3-0 lead in a rapid-fire opening set that was over in 24 minutes.But what appeared to be a simple afternoon for Barty turned tense in a grinding second set which the 36-year-old Zvonareva compelled to a tiebreak earlier than falling 9-7.”Vera, without a doubt she’s an experienced campaigner,” mentioned Barty. “I think in the first set I served exceptionally well.”She was a little bit bit unfastened off her racquet and he or she gave me a couple of cheapies.”I think all in all being able to work my way around that and kind of get through that in straight sets was really pleasing.”I feel when my again was in opposition to the wall I got here up with some actually good things.”That’s all we can ask when your back is against the wall.”Barty has received 5 tournaments this season, together with a second Grand Slam at Wimbledon and her U.S. Open tune-up in Cincinnati.In between these two victories, nevertheless, the 25-year-old threw in a dismal efficiency when she was booted out of the opening spherical of the Tokyo Olympics by Forty eighth-ranked Sara Sorribes Tormo.Zvonareva is a former U.S. Open and Wimbledon runner-up however her greatest outcomes got here greater than a decade in the past and the injury-ravaged Russian has had spotty performances at Grand Slams ever since, not advancing previous the second spherical of any main since 2014.She embraced her second again on Arthur Ashe Stadium courtroom, refusing to wave the white flag after a lopsided opening set.In the top Barty’s all-court recreation and energy proved an excessive amount of for her, with the Australian laying down 11 aces and firing 31 winners in comparison with 9 by her opponent.”I think all in all I felt like today I was able to find some good tennis when it mattered most,” mentioned Barty, who subsequent meets younger Dane Clara Tauson. “I started well and in the end was able to play some good, aggressive tennis towards the end of the match.”Click right here for IndiaToday.in’s full protection of the coronavirus pandemic.