New York: World number one Barty Ash was sweating for a 6-1 7-6 (7) victory over Vera Zvonareva and a place in the second round M.
Open on Tuesday.
The Australian leading out of open fire on all the cylinders and ran to tin 3-0 in a quick opening set that had ended in 24 minutes.
But what seemed to be an easy afternoon for Barty turned tense in the second set of 36-year-old Zvonareva was forced to tiebreak before falling 9-7.
“Vera, without doubt he is an experienced campaigner,” Barty said.
“I think on the first set I present very well.” He was rather loose from his racket and he gave me some cheap.
“I think everything can work my way and sort of passing it in a straight set is really fun.” I thought when my back was on the wall I came up with some very good things.
“That’s all we can ask when your back opposes the wall.” Barty has won five tournaments this season, including the second career of the grand slam at Wimbledon and the open tune-up in Cincinnati.
Among the two victories, however, the 25-year-old threw a gloomy performance when he was booted from the opening round of the Tokyo Olympics by Sara Sara Sara Sorribes Tormo who was in 48th place.
Zvonareva is the former US runner-up and Wimbledon but the best results came more than a decade ago and Russia which was hit by injuries had had a spotty show in the Grand Slams since then, did not advance through the second round from now on 2014.
He embraced his moment back to Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, refused to wave a white flag after a slanted opening set.
In the end the game and the power of All-Court Barty proved too much for him, with Australia put 11 aces and fired 31 winners compared to nine by his opponents.
“I think all in everything I feel today I can find good tennis when most important,” said Barty, the next one met Young Dane Clara Tauson.
“I started well and in the end it could play a good and aggressive tennis towards the end of the match.”
US Open: Ash Barty was made to work to win over Zvonareva in the first round
