Paris, May 26: Amanda Anisimova made a successful return to the court after an eight-week injury hiatus, securing her place in the second round of the French Open. She defeated France’s Tiantsao Sara Rakotomanga Rajaonah with a score of 6-3, 6-1.
The American player faced challenges initially, struggling to find her rhythm after missing the entire clay-court season due to a left wrist injury. In the first five games, Anisimova appeared uncomfortable, losing her serve twice and battling to maintain consistency during lengthy rallies.
However, the 23-year-old gradually regained her aggressive baseline game that had taken her to the semifinals of the French Open as a teenager in 2019. After a shaky start, Anisimova took complete control of the match, winning 11 out of the next 12 games and finishing the match in just one hour and nine minutes.
This victory marks her 15th match win at the French Open and serves as an encouraging sign for the two-time Grand Slam finalist after a disrupted clay-court campaign. Rajaonah started strong, capitalizing on Anisimova’s uncertain beginning by breaking her serve twice early in the first set, aided by double faults from the American player.
The 20-year-old left-hander had won her first WTA Tour title in São Paulo last September. She effectively used defensive strength to trouble Anisimova in the early moments, handling pressure situations well while the American struggled to find her groove. However, as Anisimova improved her returns, the match’s momentum shifted decisively. She began to play more confidently inside the baseline, consistently attacking Rajaonah’s serve.
As a result, Anisimova won nearly 70 percent of the points on the French player’s serve during the match. Despite finishing with 24 winners and 24 unforced errors, Anisimova’s statistics indicate a rapid improvement in her game level after the first set, where she made 14 errors.
Anisimova’s next match will be against Austria’s Julia Grabher, who secured her first Grand Slam match win in two years by defeating Slovak qualifier Rebecca Šramková in straight sets after recovering from a serious wrist injury.
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RSG