WTA 2016 US Open

Karolina Pliskova Routs Kenin in US Open R1

2016 Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova enters round two of the US Open with a sweep of American next gen talent Sofia Kenin.

By admin

2016 Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova glides to the second round of the 2016 US Open.
2016 Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova glides to the second round of the 2016 US Open.

2016 Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova eases through to the second round of the 2016 US Open with a sweep of 18-year old American Sofia Kenin. The tenth seeded Karolina Pliskova disposes of Sofia Kenin with a 6-4, 6-3 straight sets victory in a one hour and thirteen minute first round match. The victory also gives Karolina Pliskova first blood against the next generation talent in their career singles head to head matchup. Karolina Pliskova has now managed to advance past the first round in three out of four Grand Slam events this season.

Karolina Pliskova starts the match opener by winning the first two games for a 2-0 lead over Sofia Kenin. The teenager then wins two consecutive games of her own to the set at 1-1. The world no. 11 Karolina Pliskova retaliates with her second straight two-win burst to regain the a two-point lead, 4-2. Kenin trims the lead down to one at 4-3 after winning a long rally in the seventh game. However, Karolina Pliskova reaches set point first, 5-3, with an immediate win in the following game. The 18-year old saves set point with a 40-30 win in the ninth game, but drops the tenth to Karolina Pliskova, as the Czech number one closes out the first frame with a 40-0 win.

Karolina Pliskova fired 6 aces to none against Sofia Kenin during the thirty-eight minute long match opener. Pliskova took control of the service game via second serve points, as she wins 7 of 15 (47%) against a meager 2 of 12 (17) from Kenin. She also came out ahead on the breakers, with Karolina Pliskova breaking Sofia Kenin two times in five opportunities. Karolina Pliskova was also able to save four out of five break point attempts coming from Sofia Kenin during the first frame.

The second set sees Karolina Pliskova win back-to-back games once more at the start of the set for an early 2-0 lead. Pliskova begins the second frame by winning three of the first four games for a 3-1 advantage. Sofia Kenin manages to win two of the following three games to cut the lead down to one at 4-3. Karolina Pliskova promptly wins back-to-back games to wrap up her first round match against Sofia Kenin.

The 24-year old Karolina Pliskova came out on top of the service game with 3 aces to 0 for Sofia Kenin. She once again seized the service advantage through second serves, as Karolina Pliskova finished the final frame winning 7 of 13 (54%) compared to just 2 of 6 (33%) from Sofia Kenin. Karolina Pliskova had the only break points of the second set, as she breaks the teenaged Kenin two times in four break point opportunities. She was also able to save both break point attempts coming from Sofia Kenin throughout the thirty-five minute set.

Karolina Pliskova will face 2016 US Open qualifier Montserrat Gonzalez in the second round. Their upcoming US Open match will be the first-ever meeting for Karolina Pliskova and the 24-year old Montserrat Gonzalez.

Paraguay’s world no. 192 Montserrat Gonzalez enters round two of the US Open with an upset win over Montenegro’s world no. 54 Danka Kovinic. The tournament qualifier stuns Kovinic with a 7-5, 6-2 sweep in a first round match that lasted for less than one-and-a-half hours.

2016 Connecticut Open champion Agnieszka Radwanska
2016 Connecticut Open champion Agnieszka Radwanska ends Jessica Pegula to setup a second round meeting with the UK’s Naomi Broady.

2016 Connecticut Open champion Agnieszka Radwanska also moves through to the second round of the US Open with a rout of Buffalo, New York native Jessica Pegula. The world no. 4 Radwanska sweeps the world no. 138 Pegula 6-1, 6-1 in less than one-hour. She was able to break the 22-year old Pegula five times in nine attempts during the first round match. Radwanska was able to save the single break point try coming from Jessica Pegula.

Agnieszka Radwanska will be matched up against the United Kingdom’s Naomi Broady in round two. Radwanska and Broady’s upcoming US Open match will be the pair’s first-ever career meeting.

World no. 82 Naomi Broady wins out against United Kingdom compatriot Laura Robson to reach the second round of the US Open. Broady wins consecutive sets after losing the match opener to push through with a 6(4)-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory. The win also gives the 26-year old Broady first blood over Laura Robson in their singles head to head record.

World number one Serena Williams
World number one Serena Williams powers past Russian Ekaterina Makarova in round one.

Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams steps past Russian world no. 29 Ekaterina Makarova to advance to the next round. The world number one sweeps Makarova 6-3, 6-3 in a one hour and three minute first round match. This is the first time that Ekaterina Makarova has dropped out of the first round of a Grand Slam this season. Unfortunately for Makarova, she gets matched up in the first round with the only player to appear in all three Grand Slam finals of 2016. Serena Williams, on the other hand, is looking for her second consecutive Grand Slam title this year.

Serena Williams will face American compatriot Vania King in round two. Coincidentally, Williams and King’s first and only matched was in the 2014 US Open, with Serena Williams taking a second round win over Vania King with a 6-1, 6-0 sweep.

Vania King advances past the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for just the second time this season by defeating German qualifier Antonia Lottner. King sweeps Lottner 7(7)- 6(2), 6-3 in a one hour and thirty-seven minute first round match. King survives 5 aces from Lottner through the returns, as she breaks the German twice during their first round match. King was also able to save all four break point opportunities from Lottner. The win also give Vania King first blood against Antonia Lottner in their singles head to head matchup.

Laura Siegemund
Laura Siegemund wil face American Nicole Gibbs in the second round.

US Open twenty-sixth seed Laura Siegemund makes it to the second round with a comeback win over Romanian world no. 128 Patricia Maria Tig. Siegemund avoids a first round upset by winning back-to-back sets after losing the first to claim a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 come-from-behind win after a marathon two hour and twenty-seven minute match. Laura Siegemund also improves to a 2-0 record over Patricia Maria Tig in their singles head to head matchup. Both of Siegemund’s wins against Tig came this year, with the German taking a round of 64 win in the 2016 Volvo Car Open last April.

Laura Siegemund will face 23-year old American Nicole Gibbs in the following round. Entering their US Open meeting, Siegemund has a 1-0 advantage over Gibbs in their singles head to head record.

World no. 69 Nicole Gibbs goes past tournament qualifier Aleksandra Krunic to reach round two of the US Open. Gibbs routs the 23-year old Serbian with a 6-1, 6-0 sweep to end their first round match after just fifty-eight minutes. Gibbs broke Krunic seven times out of nine break point opportunities. She was also able to deflect seven of Krunic’s eight break point attempts.

Kristina Mladenovic
Kristina Mladenovic defeats Japan’s Nao Hibino to move through to round two.

France’s world no. 37 Kristina Mladenovic takes down Japan’s world no. 70 Nao Hibino to advance to the second round. Mladenovic dominates Hibino with a 6-4, 7-5 straight sets win after a one hour and forty-one minute first round match. Mladenovic fired 5 aces to none against Nao Hibino. She also came through on the returns with three breakers in four opportunities. Mladenovic was able to save six of Hibino’s seven break point attempts during their first round meeting.

Kristina Mladenovic will face US Open seventeenth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in round two. Mladenovic holds a 1-0 record over Pavlyuchenkova in their career singles head to head matchup. Coincidentally, their first and only match took place in the same tournament; with Kristina Mladenovic taking a second round win in the 2012 US Open over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advances to the second round of the US Open with a straight sets win over Westchester, New York resident Louisa Chirico. The world no. 18 Pavlyuchenkova sweeps Chirico 6-1, 6-4 in a one hour and fourteen minute first round match. The victory gives the Russian first blood over the 20-year old Chirico in their singles head to head record.

Jelena Jankovic
Jelena Jankovic will face US Open eleventh seed Carla Suarez Navarro in round two.

Serbia’s world no. 40 Jelena Jankovic reaches the second round of a Grand Slam event for the second consecutive time with a first round win against Columbia’s Mariana Duque-Marino. Jankovic eliminates Duque-Marino with a 6-4, 6-1 straight sets victory in a one hour and five minute first round meeting. The win improves Jelena Jankovic to a 2-0 record over the world no. 77 Columbian.

Jelena Jankovic will face 2016 US Open eleventh seed Carla Suarez Navarro in the next round. The lower ranked Jankovic has a 5-3 winning record against the Spaniard in their career singles head to head matchup. The two players will meet in a Grand Slam event for the first time in over eight years.

Carla Suarez Navarro enters round two of the 2016 US Open without losing a point to Brazilian world no. 136 Teliana Pereira. Navarro dominates Pereira with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 match that lasted for just forty-six minutes. Carla Suarez Navarro also improves to a 2-1 record against Teliana Pereira. The Brazilian last defeated Suarez Navarro in 2007 during the quarterfinals of the 2007 25k Granada.

Varvara Lepchenko
Varvara Lepchenko will meet Timea Babos in round two of the 2016 US Open.

The USA’s world no. 68 Varvara Lepchenko advances to the second round of the 2016 US Open by surviving China’s world no. 259 Shuai Peng. Lepchenko wins back-to-back sets after falling behind on the first to eliminate Peng with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 come-from-behind win. Varvara Lepchenko improves to a 2-1 record over Shuai Peng in their singles head to head matchup. Lepchenko also avenges a 2011 US Open first round loss suffered at the hands of Shuai Peng.

Varvara Lepchenko will be matched up with 2016 US Open fifteenth seed Timea Bacsinszky in round two. Heading into their 2016 US Open meeting, the lower ranked Lepchenko holds a 1-0 advantage over Bacsinszky in their career singles head to head matchup. Varvara Lepchenko won their first-ever match in the finals of the 2010 Apia International Sydney Open.

World no. 15 Timea Bacsinszky enters the second round of the US Open with a rout of Russian world no. 677 Vitalia Diatchenko. Bacsinszky sweeps the 26-year old Diatchenko 6-1, 6-1 after a one hour and three minute first round match. The win gives the Swiss star first blood against Diatchenko in their career singles head to head record.

Julia Goerges
Julia Goerges stuns Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer to move through to the next round.

Germany’s world no. 64 Julia Goerges books her second round ticket with an upset win against Belgian world no. 38 Yanina Wickmayer. Goerges eliminates Wickmayer in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 after a one hour and seven minute first round match. The win is just the second-ever for Julia Goerges against the higher ranked Wickmayer in eight total matches. This is Goerges first victory against the German in their last six meetings in over nine years in a period dating back to 2007.

Julia Goerges will face two-time US Open champion Venus Williams in the following round. Venus Williams and Julia Goerges have only met once prior to their upcoming US Open match. Williams defeated Goerges in the round of 32 of the 2015 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open to take first blood against the 28-year old German.

The sixth seeded Venus Williams evades a first round upset against Ukrainian world no. 93 Kateryna Kozlova. Williams outlasts Kozlova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a two hour and forty-three minute match. Williams also takes first blood against Kateryna Kozlova in their career singles head to head record.

Sweden's Johanna Larsson
Sweden’s Johanna Larsson eases past Italy’s Karin Knapp in their round one match.

Sweden’s world no. 47 Johanna Larsson reaches round two with a sweep of Italian world no. 130 Karin Knapp. The 28-year old Larsson eliminates Knapp with a 6-4, 6-2 straight sets win after a one-and-a-half hour match. The win is also the first-ever for Johanna Larsson against the lower ranked Karin Knapp in four singles matches.

Johanna Larsson will face Denisa Allertova in round two. Allertova earlier defeated US Open twenty-ninth seed Ana Ivanovic to move through to the second round. Their upcoming match in New York will be the first-ever for Larsson and Allertova.

Japan’s world no. 80 Kurumi Nara advances to round two of the US Open by going past Swiss world no. 100 Stefanie Voegele. Nara sweeps Voegele 6-0, 7-5 in a one hour and twenty-eight minute first round match. The win also gives Kurumi Nara an undefeated 4-0 record over the 26-year old Swiss native.

Kurumi Nara will face Croatian world no. 92 Ana Konjuh in the following round. Their upcoming US Open match will be the first-ever meeting for Kurumi Nara and Ana Konjuh in their singles head to head matchup.

Elena Vesnina
Elena Vesnina will face Germany’s Annika Beck in round two of the 2016 US Open.

US Open nineteenth seed Elena Vesnina goes past Estonian world no. 90 Anett Kontaveit to reach the second round of the tournament. Vesnina outlasts Kontaveit 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in a two hour and twenty-five minute first round match. Elena Vesnina also improves to a 2-0 record over Anett Kontaveit in their singles head to head matchup.

Elena Vesnina sets up a second round meeting with German world no. 41 Annika Beck. Coming into their US Open match, Vesnina and Beck are tied 1-1 in their singles head to head record. By coincidence, Vesnina and Beck’s first ever match was in the 2013 US Open, with Elena Vesnina taking a first round win over Annika Beck.

Annika Beck steps through to round two of the 2016 US Open by defeating Argentinian world no. 230 Nadia Podoroska. Beck pushes past the 19-year old Podoroska with a 7-6, 6-3 sweep in a one hour and thirty-six minute match. The win also gives Beck first blood against Podoroska in their career singles head to head record.

Katerina Siniakova moves through to round two with an upset win over Canada's Eugenie Bouchard.
Katerina Siniakova moves through to round two with an upset win over Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.

Czech Republic world no. 72 Katerina Siniakova advances to round two with an upset win over Canadian world no. 39 Eugenie Bouchard. Siniakova stuns Bouchard with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 three-set win after a two hour and fifteen minute first round match. The win gives Siniakova first blood against Bouchard in their career singles record.

Katerina Siniakova will face US Open twenty-fifth seed Caroline Garcia in round two. Garcia was earlier able to defeat French compatriot, world no. 63 Pauline Parmentier to advance to the second round of the US Open.

China’s world no. 51 Shuai Zhang reaches round two by defeating Australian wildcard entry Ellen Perez. The 27-year old Zhang sweeps Perez 6-1, 6-1 in a brief forty-nine minute first round match. Zhang will face 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur in round two. The world no. 17 Stosur survives a three-set battle with Italian world no. 67 Camila Giorgi 7-5, 6(4)-7(7), 6-1 after a two hour and thirty eight minute match to reach round two. Samantha Stosur holds a 1-0 record over Zhang, with the Australian defeating Shuai Zhang in the second round of this year’s French Open.