Last year’s quarterfinalist, Kristina Mladenovic took on 70th-ranked Nao Hibino in her first round at the Flushing Meadows. In their first-ever meeting, it was the Japanese who was piling on the pressure in the beginning. However, Hibino was not able to convert her chances and Mladenovic grabbed the first set with a break of her own. The second set was a tighter affair but the Frenchwoman pulled through to progress in straight sets setting up a clash with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
One break does it for Mladenovic to take the first set
Hibino began the match with an impressive hold and was quick to pile the pressure on Mladenovic’s serve. The Frenchwoman was pushed to deuce four times in her opening service game with the Japanese looking to pounce at every opportunity. Mladenovic eventually held fending off a couple of break points in the process.
After that tough hold, the Frenchwoman fired back and secured an early break to lead 2-1. Again she was pushed by the Japanese, and again Mladenovic was able to fight off the break points to extend her lead to 3-1. Hibino was constantly looking to be aggressive on Mladenovic’s second serves but the Frenchwoman hung on to her lead.
The Japanese came up with another strong service hold for 4-5 to force Mladenovic to serve out for the set. Hibino again tried to apply pressure on her second serve but the Frenchwoman came up with an impressive dig on the return at 30-15 before finishing it off with a monster forehand to set up two set points. And on her second, Mladenovic wrapped up the set 6-4 with another huge forehand.
Hibino fights back after trailing but suffers a late break
The Frenchwoman immediately with the pressure in the second set caused Hibino to send a double fault gifting Mladenovic with break points. The Frenchwoman converted the chance and raced off to a 2-0 lead. The Japanese eventually regrouped and got herself on the board for 1-2.
Mladenovic who had been holding her games with relative ease dropped her level in the seventh game. She served up a couple double faults handing Hibino chances to get back in the set. And on her third break point, the Japanese eventually broke the Frenchwoman’s serve to level for 4-4.
Hibino then took the lead in the set for the first time holding for 5-4. Under pressure, Mladenovic held with relative ease to tie the score 5-5. And the Frenchwoman stepped up her game once more setting up break point with some fine exchanges and nosed ahead for 6-5. With the match on her racket, Mladenovic went on to seal the victory to progress to the second round.