You don’t have to worry about the next generation in the USA: with Amanda Anisimova, the next teenager with huge potential will be on the big tennis stage in Indian Wells.
Short flashback to the US Open 2017: In the women’s semi-finals, only locals played with the later winner Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe, Venus Williams and Madison Keys. The work of the world’s largest tennis federation, the USTA, has been bearing fruit for years. At least on the female side. Meanwhile, in Indian Wells, the next American ascenders are making themselves heard loudly.
Caroline Dolehide, for example, who demanded everything from world number one Simona Halep at her first encounter. Dolehide had been awarded a wildcard by Tournament Director Tommy Haas, leaving Halep no chance at all in the first set. In the end, the Romanian’s routine prevailed – but she was still impressed by the industry leader’s.”She plays really, really very well,”Halep explained after the match,”I’ve never played against her before, so I didn’t know what I had to be prepared for, and especially the service from the advantage side could become the trademark of Caroline Dolehide:” Only a few ladies manage to keep the ball going with such a lot of kick.
Only a few ladies have managed to keep up with Petra Kvitova in the past few weeks. Amanda Anisimova officially does not belong to this group. The 16-year-old US-American with Russian roots shot the two-time Wimbledon winner 6-2 and 6-4 from the spot, after she also failed to score a set against Pauline Parmentier and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the previous rounds. For Kvitova it was the first defeat after 14 consecutive victories.
For Anisimova, it was only the fifth professional level match,”I’m still in shock,”said 149 of the world’s No. 149, who also made it into the tournament with a wildcard,”She’s the best player I’ve ever played against. And that’s on the biggest square yet. I’m sure it was eating my nerves, but I also enjoyed it and showed my best tennis. The next big challenge is already set: Karolina Pliskova, another top player from the Czech Republic, is waiting for her in the round of sixteen.
Anisimova is well acquainted with the surroundings in Indian Wels: Last week she already took part in the ITF-125K tournament there, defeating Caroline Dolehide on her way to the final round where she was defeated by Sara Errani.
For the semi-finalists of New York City 2017, however, Indian Wells achieved a rather mixed result: Sloane Stephens was able to beat Victoria Azarenka for the first time in a fourth comparison. And Venus Williams is waiting for the Sister Act against Serena. Madison Keys and Coco Vandweghe, both without a win in the set, were eliminated early on. Keys was defeated by Danielle Collins, also one of the young guard. Vandeweghe had to admit defeat to Maria Sakkari from Greece.
Here the single tableau of the ladies in Indian Wells