Amanda Anisimova overcame Sofia Kenin in a three-set Wimbledon rollercoaster, firing 20 aces and three in the final tiebreaker. Iga Swiatek and Alexandra Eala advanced with straight-sets wins, keeping their title hopes alive.
Amanda Anisimova needed three sets and a barrage of aces to survive Sofia Kenin’s challenge at Wimbledon on Tuesday, advancing to the third round with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory. The American fired 20 aces, including three in the final tiebreaker, to blunt Kenin’s relentless baseline pressure and keep her Wimbledon campaign alive. The match stretched over two hours, with Anisimova breaking serve twice in the opener before Kenin rallied to level the set.
A tight third set saw Anisimova save three break points in the opening game, then surge ahead with her serving dominance intact. Kenin, a former Australian Open finalist, pushed Anisimova deep into the rallies, but the American’s serve kept her at bay—her first-serve percentage sat at 72%, while Kenin managed just 58%. This statistical edge was not merely luck but a strategic necessity on a surface that punishes hesitation.
By refusing to engage in prolonged baseline grinds where Kenin excels, Anisimova effectively shortened points and neutralized her opponent's strongest weapon. The American's ability to hold serve under duress, particularly after fending off early pressure in the deciding set, highlights a mental toughness often lacking in her previous campaigns. It suggests a shift from a reactive ball-striker to a proactive aggressor, a transformation required to navigate the latter stages of a major.
1 Iga Swiatek dismissed Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-2 in 55 minutes, moving into the third round without dropping a set. Swiatek’s clinical baseline game and movement left little room for Tsurenko to exploit, while her cross-court winners piled up early. The Ukrainian, ranked 42nd, managed just four winners while committing 18 unforced errors, a stark contrast to Swiatek’s 19 winners and 10 forced errors.
Swiatek’s ability to dictate play from the baseline has drawn comparisons to Serena Williams’ dominance in her prime, though she remains focused on her own game. Filipino teenager Alexandra Eala continued her breakthrough run with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Zeynep Sönmez, showcasing her poise under pressure. Eala’s all-court game and sharp angles troubled Sönmez, who managed just four winners against 18 unforced errors.
The 19-year-old, ranked 144th, has become the first Filipino woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon since 1996, a milestone that has energized her home crowd. Her next opponent, either 12th seed Veronika Kudermetova or qualifier Natalija Stevanović, will face a player who has already outlasted expectations this fortnight. Eala’s efficiency is particularly notable given the stakes; she absorbed the pressure of a historic milestone without faltering, a trait usually reserved for veterans.
Her ability to dictate play despite a high unforced error count indicates a high-risk, high-reward style that could trouble seasoned opponents. Conversely, Swiatek’s stat line reveals a ruthless efficiency that separates the contenders from the pretenders. 1 did not just win; she dominated, requiring less than an hour to dismantle a ranked opponent.
This efficiency preserves physical energy for the grueling week ahead, a tactical advantage that few others on the draw can claim. After the match, Anisimova admitted the conditions favored Kenin’s power game but credited her own serve for keeping her in control. “I knew I had to stay aggressive,” she said.
” Swiatek, meanwhile, downplayed the significance of her straight-sets win, noting the importance of peaking at the right moments. “Every match is different,” she said. ” What's next: Anisimova faces either 16th seed Karolína Plíšková or qualifier Natalija Stevanović in the third round, while Swiatek and Eala will meet higher-ranked opponents as the draw tightens.
The contrast in styles—Anisimova’s power serve against Swiatek’s precision baseline play—sets up potential blockbuster matchups in the coming rounds. Read at ESPN
Anisimova’s escape underscores Wimbledon’s unpredictability and her own mental resilience, while Swiatek and Eala’s smooth progress adds depth to a wide-open middle draw. The contrast between Anisimova’s serve-heavy survival and Swiatek’s methodical dominance highlights the tournament’s tactical diversity, keeping title hopes fluid. Eala’s run injects fresh energy into the women’s field, proving that breakthroughs can come from anywhere in a sport where youth and experience collide.
ESPNespn.comJul 2, 9:43 PMen
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