WTA Bogota: Amanda Anisimova becomes youngest USA champion since Serena
The 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova has become the second player born in 2001 with the WTA title after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Astra Sharma in the battle of the players who chased the maiden trophy on the Tour. Amanda is the youngest American champion since Serena Williams ar Indian Wells in 1999 and also the youngest one to claim the title on clay since Lindsay Davenport in Lucerne 1993 just a few days before turning 17. Also, Anisimova is the 18th different winner on the WTA Tour in 2019 from 18 tournaments, extending the streak of non-repeated champions so far this year.
Amanda defeated Sabine Lisicki, Varvara Lepchenko, Maria Camila Osorio Serrano and Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the second WTA final where she was a set and a break down (twice) before making one last push in the second set and dominating in the decider for the first out of many titles. The youngster saved seven out of 13 break points and won 55% of the return points, earning eight breaks from 11 chances to cross the finish line first. The match kicked off with five straight breaks as they both struggled to find the rhythm behind the initial shot, with Sharma taking three of those to move 4-2 up. Amanda erased the deficit in game eight before getting broken again when her backhand landed long, allowing Astra to secure the opener 6-4 with a backhand down the line winner in the next game.
Amanda was 1-0 and 3-2 down in set number two, pulling a break back both times and setting up a decider with a break at 15 at 5-4 when Sharma's forehand landed long, gathering the momentum before the final stage of the encounter. The youngster forged an instant lead at the start of the third set when the Aussie netted a forehand, going 5-1 up after another fundamental mistake from Sharma and clinching the title thanks to a backhand winner in the game that followed to celebrate the first WTA title.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2Za4SpY
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