By Erik Gudris | Friday, September 2, 2016
Angelique Kerber earned her 50th career this season by dismissing young CiCi Bellis at the US Open.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
If No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber were a school teacher, she might have said “Class dismissed!” after her comprehensive win over young American Catherine Bellis at the US Open.
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“I learned a lot about the last years. I try to enjoy everything on court and off court and I’m playing great tennis and I try to give everything on court. It’s great to be here again. It’s very special for me,” Kerber said when asked about her solid 2016 season.
The reigning Australian Open champion proved too strong and too experienced for 17-year old Bellis who played for the first time ever under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Bellis, who enjoyed success as a 15-year-old two years ago at the US Open, still plays as an amateur and is currently committed to play college tennis for Stanford in the fall.
The New York crowd got behind Bellis for her third round match, and their support boosted the American’s confidence in the opening game.
Kerber, who held 40-0, soon found herself at deuce as Bellis stayed level with the German. Kerber eventually held serve and that set the tone she would control proceedings from there. Kerber then went on to break serve and soon led 3-0.
Bellis got on the scoreboard for 3-1 and managed to have a few crowd pleasing moments when she found success, especially by hitting forehand winners. But it was Kerber’s own down the line forehand that proved too much for Bellis to handle.
Bellis did her best to keep Kerber from serving out the set later up 5-1. Both women traded several forehand winners as Bellis saved several set points. Kerber, finally on her fifth set point, closed out the set 6-1.
Kerber took hold of another early service break to start the second set. That allowed Kerber to really take control as she dominated rallies, usually ending them with yet another forehand winner.
Kerber served for the match up 5-0. But Bellis, not ready to exit the stage just yet, battled to break her opponent and earn another game. That would be the last hurrah though for Bellis. Kerber soon held match points on Bellis’s next service game. Kerber clinched the match 6-1 6-1 after Bellis committed one final forehand error.
With the win that sent her into the fourth round, Kerber notched her 50th career win this season, the most of anyone in the WTA. The win also keeps her in the hunt for possibly taking over as World No. 1 from Serena Williams at the end of the event.
After the match. Kerber gave credit to Bellis for her play and remembered her first ever time on Ashe Stadium when she faced, and lost to, Serena Williams in the first round back in 2007.
“Congrats to CiCi. She played a great tournament and will have a great future. I was trying to play my game. I know how it is to play here first time. I remember my match against Serena long long years ago. I remember so credit to her.”
Kerber will next face Petra Kvitova in the fourth round.