For the second time in as many weeks, Mirra Andreeva has picked up a straight-sets victory over Janice Tjen.
With a 6-2, 6-2 dominant performance over Tjen to close the day session on Louis Armstrong, No. 5 seed Andreeva slides into the US Open second round and will next face Eva Lys, who defeated qualifier Gabriela Knutson. Just 14 days ago, Andreeva survived a second-set test from Tjen to book her spot into Cincinnati’s Round of 16 with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) win.
US Open: Scores | Order of play | Draws
The two matches paralleled each other in the first set, though Andreeva conceded one more than game than she did in southern Ohio. Andreeva was aggressive on all fronts, winning 7-of-8 points at the net in the first set with six total winners.
“Our match in Cincinnati was really tough,” Andreeva said on court. “I remember the conditions were tough. It was hot and humid, and it was the first time I was playing against her. It was not easy and when I saw my draw, I was ‘Uh Okay. She’s not an easy opponent to play against.
“Today I was just trying to talk to my coach to see what I can do better in order for me to feel confident on the court. I was just trying to be very aggressive, just trying to go for my shots. Today was a better match.”
In Cincinnati, she won the opening set in 28 minutes. By that mark in New York, Andreeva led 5-2 following a break at love before closing the set just three minutes later with a hold at love — she had won 12 consecutive points to close the first set.
Andreeva’s key in both Cincinnati and in New York was her serve. Two weeks ago, Tjen managed to make life for difficult in the second set, taking more risky moves on her forehand — the shot she prefers the most — and she held more games in the second set to put pressure on Andreeva’s serve. Andreeva lived up to task, and she wasn’t broken in Ohio, just like she was today in New York.
Tuesday, however, there wasn’t much of a test in the second set for Andreeva, who executed a complete performance to book her spot in the second round at the US Open for the fourth consecutive year.
Andreeva’s Cincinnati vs. US Open stats side-by-side
*Bolded means New York
First-serve percentage: 58% (36-of-62), 80% (33-of-41)
First-serve points won: 86% (31-of-36), 85% (28-of-33)
Break points saved: 1/1, none faced
Break points converted: 30% (3-of-10), 100% (4-of-4)
Returning points won: 42.5% (34-of-80), 52% (25-of-48)
Tjen’s Cincinnati vs. US Open stats side-by-side
*Bolded means New York
First-serve percentage: 69% (55-of-80), 60% (29-of-48)
First-serve points won: 60% (33-of-55), 59% (17-of-29)
Break points saved: 70% 7-of-10, 0% (0-of-4)
Break points converted: 0% (0-of-1), 0% (0-of-0)
Returning points won: 27% (17-of-62), 20% (8-of-41)