U.S. Open: CiCi Bellis wins, advances into the third round

The last match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium as the second seed Angelique Kerber had to take on young American promise, Catherine Bellis.

Outside of the Williams sisters, Petra Kvitova is the only multiple women’s Grand Slam title victor in the US Open and is pursuing a third major on a diet of movies, napping and as little practice as possible. The American had chances since the start where she held two break opportunities after coming back from 0-40, but the more experienced Kerber saved both opportunities and with it, her opening service game.

The second-seeded German took 55 minutes to close out the Day Five program at Flushing Meadows, almost doubling the 33 points won by Bellis as she notched her WTA Tour-leading 50th match win of the season.

Kerber was solid against Bellis and that was enough, rolling out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. From there, another mistake from Kerber gave Bellis a second break point but she quickly redeemed herself with an ace.

Her next challenge will be unseeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova, who beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-4, 6-1. After that scare in the first game, Kerber got three break points, which she converted with a powerful forehand return that could not be replied. “It’s always hard to play for the first time at night at Ashe”. While Serena Williams still remains on the other side of the draw, the highest seeded player she will have to play before the final if she gets there is Madison Keys, ranked eight.

In pole position to become the first German to become No.1 in the world since Stefanie Graf in 1997, the reigning Australian Open champion put on a masterclass for Bellis, the tournament’s most impressive young talent. In the victory, Kvitova won 69 percent of her first serve points and 44 percent of her second serve points.

“She could play an hour-long point and wouldn’t be exhausted”, a humbled Bellis said afterward. Kvitova won 2-0.

Rogers out-aced Bellis, 5-1, but tossed in seven double faults to five by Bellis.

Harrison had reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time when he defeated the No. 5 seed and Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic on Wednesday.

Her ranking down to 74th after an ankle injury and on-court struggles, Wozniacki is unseeded at the U.S. Open for the first time since her debut in 2007. That allowed Kerber to really take control as she dominated rallies, usually ending them with yet another forehand victor. In addition, the NCAA allows prize money to cover the U.S. Open’s travel expenses. A long forehand from Bellis, one of her 21 unforced errors on the night, handed the victory to the second seed, 6-1, 6-1.