YONEX’s younger players have been making great advances recently, with Belinda Bencic (EZONE Ai 100, POLYTOUR HS 125) advancing into the third round at this year’s US Open. Up against number 31 seed Kurumi Nara from Japan, Belinda demonstrated confident control throughout the match. The young Swiss player boasted fast serves, grabbing four aces while her opponent was unable to get any, and won seven breakpoints. The final score came to 6-4 4-6 6-1. Belinda faces another member of Team YONEX, Angelique Kerber (VCORE Xi 100) in round three. “I’ll be competing against a fellow YONEX player next, but I’ll give it my all,” commented Belinda when we sat down to talk to her after her match.
On the subject of Angelique, she also won her second round match against Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva impressively in straight sets. Converting her second break chance, Angelique lead the first set, and served it out. While the second set proved to be a more even competition between the two, Angelique took the match point as Alla sent the ball colliding into the net. Angelique played a cleaner game than her opponent, who made 36 unforced errors—more than double than Angelique. Angelique also managed to convert five of seven break points, and won nearly 70% of her first serve points. The final score was 6-2 6-4.
Sabine Lisicki (VCORE Tour 97, POLYTOUR SPIN) achieved an overwhelming victory over the USA’s Madison Brengle. In a match that ran just over an hour, Boom Boom Lisicki overpowered her opponent, scoring 11 aces with her opponent hitting none, and getting 37 winners while her opponent only got three. As always, Lisicki was ruthless with her serves, hitting the fastest at 124 mph/200 kmh. The final score was 6-4 6-1.
Borna Coric (VCORE Tour 97, POLYTOUR SPIN) is set to play tomorrow on day four against Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic. We sat down with him for a quick chat about this year’s US Open. “It's great being back here. I won the boy’s tournament last year, so it’s just an amazing feeling being back. I'm really excited for my next round,” commented Coric on being back in New York. “My serve is much better, and much bigger. I think it’s the main weapon in my game,” remarked the young Croatian on his performance.
Tournament Results [2014 US Open, Day 3]
Men’s Singles [Round 1]
[6]Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Lleyton Hewitt (VCORE Tour 97, YONEX Shoes)(AUS) 6-3 6-4 6-3
Men’s Singles [Round 2]
[3]Stan Wawrinka (VCORE Tour G, SHT-PRO)(SUI) def. Thomaz Belluci (BRA) 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6(1)
Women’s Singles [Round 2]
[6]Angelique Kerber (VCORE Xi 100)(GER) def. Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2 6-4
[26]Sabine Lisicki (VCORE Tour 97, POLYTOUR SPIN)(GER) def. Madison Brengle (USA) 6-4 6-1
Belinda Bencic (EZONE Ai 100, POLYTOUR HS 125)(SUI) def. [31]Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-4 4-6 6-1
Men’s Doubles [Round 1]
[11]Marcel Granollers (ESP)/Marc Lopez (ESP) def. Nick Kyrgios (EZONE Ai 98)(AUS)/Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4
Women’s Doubles [Round 1]
Renata Voracova (VCORE Xi 100)(CZE)/Lauren Davis (USA) def. Nicole Gibbs (USA)/Maria Sanchez (USA) 6-3 4-6 6-1
Coco Vandeweghe (EZONE Ai 98)(USA)/Alison Riske (USA) def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)/ Heather Watson (GBR) 7-5 6-3
Kimiko Date-Krumm (S-FIT, POLYTOUR SPIN)/Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) def. Irina Falconi (USA)/Anna Tatishvili (USA) 7-5 4-6 6-3