Anisimova conquers Cristian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach US Open round of 16

Amanda Anisimova from Freehold, New Jersey, recently added two considerable achievements to her resume: WTA 100 champion and Wimbledon finalist. The soon-to-be twenty-four-year-old is currently ranked #9, having achieved a career high of #7 in July.

Jaqueline Cristian from Romania is a formidable opponent. Currently ranked #50, she competes like a top-fifteen player. Although the twenty-seven-year-old was unseeded, she was attempting to defeat three Americans, having dispatched Danielle Collins in straight sets and Ashlyn Krueger in three sets. This was their first tour-level meeting. Cristian won the toss and elected to serve.
Cristian missed 3/5 first serves but held to 15 with an ace out wide. Anisimova gifted three unforced errors, faced deuce and a break point, but held to level. As both pummeled the ball off both sides, they looked for opportunities to hit outright winners or finish points at the net.

Cristian crushed a backhand down the line but faced deuce, three break points, and dumped serve when she overcooked a backhand. Anisimova hit a spectacular forehand down the line and held at love for 3-1 while Cristian donated three consecutive double faults to dump serve.

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The American opened the fifth with a remarkable inside-out forehand and, with two consecutive winning forehands, held to 15 for 5-1. Cristian, serving to stay in the set, made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 while Anisimova, serving with new balls, faced 0-30 then 30-40 and with a netted forehand, dumped serve.

Cristian, serving at 3-5, donated three consecutive unforced errors and faced a set point, yet held with two consecutive well-placed serves. Anisimova opened the tenth with a mishit forehand but with two outstanding winners, reached double set point, and clinched it when her opponent’s return sailed long.

The Romanian served first in the second and struggled. She gifted three double faults, faced six deuce, four break points, and dropped serve with an errant cross-court backhand. The American was unable to capitalize and consolidate the break. She opened with a double fault and donated three additional errors to give back the break.

Cristian held easily to 15 for 2-1 while Anisimova held to 30 to level despite donating another double fault. Cristian made 5/8 first serves and though she faced deuce, held for 3-2 while Anisimova faced deuce but held to level with two consecutive aces. Cristian, serving with new balls, faced a break point and deuce but held following two consecutive forehand errors from her opponent. Anisimova hitting with precision and power held at love for 4-4 while Cristian missed 4/6 first serves, including her seventh double fault, yet held to 30 to lead 5-4.  Anisimova, serving to stay in the set, opened with a double fault and proceeded to commit three consecutive unforced errors to concede the set.

The match lived up to expectations as both attempted to dictate with the serve and off the ground. While both racked up a slew of unforced errors, they continued to play aggressively and with a sense of urgency.

Cristian served first in the decider and though she made 4/6 first serves, faced a break point, and dropped serve when Anisimova ripped a backhand down the line. The American lost her focus and break advantage with four consecutive unforced errors, including another double fault.

Cristian was unable to consolidate the break as she faced three deuce, three break points, and dropped serve with a netted backhand. Anisimova demonstrated her improved movement and defense as she consolidated the break for 3-1.

The Romanian struck two aces and held for 2-3, while Anisimova struck two aces and an unreturnable serve to hold for 4-2. Cristian opened the seventh with a whiffed backhand and was broken at love.

Anisimova served for the match, and it was far from straightforward. She faced two deuce and a double break point, but with two additional aces and a netted backhand from Cristian, reached the fourth round of her home slam for the first time.

Anisimova finished with six aces, four double faults, and won 64% of first and 44% of second serve points. She saved 4/8 break points while converting 6/15.
While she struck thirty-seven winners, she committed forty-six unforced errors. She will need to drastically reduce that number while improving her percentage of second serve points won if she hopes to progress to the final eight.

Waiting in the round of sixteen is a challenging opponent; the southpaw from Brazil and the 18th seed, Beatriz Haddad Maia, or former world #3, Maria Sakkari from Greece. Sakkari leads the head-to-head 2-0, including a straight-sets win in the third round at the 2020 US Open. Anisimova leads Haddad Maia 2-1 though they have not played in over two years.