American tennis star Amanda Anisimova admitted she felt the nerves and stress before facing Naomi Osaka but she was glad that she was able to control her nerves and pick up a victory over the four-time Grand Slam champion.
After the French Open main draw was released, the match that drew lots of attention was the one between Anisimova and Osaka. 27th-seeded Anisimova and former world No. 1 Osaka didn't disappoint as both delivered a good level of tennis in their French Open meeting.
In the end, it was Anisimova that claimed a 7-5 6-4 victory. “It was very difficult [with] a lot of anticipation over the last couple of days. I was trying not to think about it too much, but going into the match, I did feel like the stress and the nerves a bit, because it is a very tough first round.
I'm just happy with how I was able to manage it and get through it,” Anisimova said, per the WTA website. “I would say the conditions were tough today, because of the rain it was very heavy. But I just was trying to stay aggressive and keep going for my flat shots, because that's what I thought would help me get the win today.”
Anisimova beats Osaka again
Anisimova was twice up by a break in the first set but Osaka twice recovered and the two players were tied to five games apiece after the opening 10 games. Blowing two breaks didn't impact Anisimova, who broke Osaka again in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead, before serving out for the first set in the following game.
After winning the first set, Anisimova claimed the first break of the second set in the seventh game to open a 4-3 lead. Anisimova saved three consecutive break points in the eighth game, before serving out for the match in the 10th game.
Anisimova now has a 2-0 head-to-head versus Osaka as she also beat the Japanese when they met earlier this year at the Australian Open.
