The last match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium as the second seed Angelique Kerber had to take on young American promise, Catherine Bellis. The 17-year-old had a difficult task ahead of her as she wasn’t only playing the world number two but also her first third round match in a Grand Slam. The American had chances since the start where she held two break opportunities after coming back from 0-40, but the more experienced Kerber saved both opportunities and with it, her opening service game.
The whole match was a similar story as Bellis had the chance to break on several occasions but was never able to do so as she committed too many unforced errors. Despite the score line, Bellis put up a good match but was overpowered by Kerber. The German only needed 57 minutes to defeat Catherine Bellis 6-1, 6-1 and set up a clash against Petra Kvitova in the second week of the US Open.
Kerber struggles to keep her serve as an erratic Bellis wastes her chances
Kerber began the first game of the match with a 40-0 lead on her own serve, but Bellis quickly turned things around after staying in the rallies and forcing Kerber to make the mistake, which brought the American a first break point, one that she would lose with a forehand unforced error. From there, another mistake from Kerber gave Bellis a second break point but she quickly redeemed herself with an ace. The second seed eventually held to go up 1-0. After that scare in the first game, Kerber got three break points, which she converted with a powerful forehand return that could not be replied. It was now the American who wasn’t able to find the pace after those wasted opportunities as Kerber held to go up 3-0. After two erratic games, Bellis improved her game and put herself on the scoreboard but was still a break down.
That game sparked confidence in the young American who even got another break point, but Kerber quickly erased it. Bellis had everything to score another break point after playing an amazing rally, but she missed a very easy forehand, which helped Kerber to hold and keep the lead at 4-1. The American was playing some great rallies but was struggling in the important moments as she was aiming for the lines, which ended up in plenty unforced errors that gifted Kerber the break to be up 5-1 and serve for the set. The German had a set point but two unforced errors handed another break point for Bellis, but the unceasing unforced errors made her lose it once again. From facing another set point, the American recovered to win herself a second break point but once again she couldn’t convert. It took Kerber five set points to take the first set, 6-1.
Bellis’ mistakes continue to give Kerber a wide lead
It was not the greatest start for the American who, in the first game of the second set, faced three break points, which Kerber didn’t waste to go ahead 1-0. The German consolidated the break without facing complications to lead 2-0. In the third game, Bellis saved two break points but a third one came after she hit a double fault. This time, the American couldn’t save it after hitting a backhand into the net and giving up her serve again. Kerber was unstoppable as she returned every shot that the American threw at her, and the continuous unforced errors didn’t help Bellis either.
Down 0-4, Bellis was barely winning points as she either finished the point with a shot into the net or hit them wide to give Kerber, again, three break points. The American saved two of them, but was unable to save the third one and now was one game away from the loss. While serving for the match, Kerber struggled again to close it out as she quickly faced two break points and this time. the American broke to get on the scoreboard. Back on serve, Bellis was trying to score a second game and stay in the match, but after a few mistakes from the American, it was now Kerber who had a match point. A long forehand from Bellis, one of her 21 unforced errors on the night, handed the victory to the second seed, 6-1, 6-1.
Next for Angelique Kerber
In the fourth round, Angelique Kerber will face a tough opponent as she has to play against two-time Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova. This will be their ninth encounter and as of right now the series is tied at 4-4. Their last match was this year at the Stuttgart semifinals, where Kerber won in three sets.