{"id":4196,"date":"2017-08-28T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=4196"},"modified":"2017-08-28T11:00:39","modified_gmt":"2017-08-28T15:00:39","slug":"rising-ana-blinkova-takes-on-compatriot-premier-event-winner-elina-vesnina-at-us-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2017\/08\/28\/rising-ana-blinkova-takes-on-compatriot-premier-event-winner-elina-vesnina-at-us-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Anna Blinkova takes on compatriot and Premier Event winner Elina Vesnina at US Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the 2nd consecutive Grand Slam<\/strong>, eighteen year old starlet Anna Blinkova has made in through three gruelling qualifying rounds to be rewarded with a 1st round<\/strong> tie against compatriot, Elina Vesnina.<\/p>\n

Now ranked 117 on the WTA Tour, Blinkova is starting to establish herself in the women\u2019s game. Binkova who won two hard-court ITF singles titles<\/strong> last season and, began this season by making the 2nd round in her first Grand Slam: the Australian Open<\/strong>.
\nA few rash shot decisions saw her form blip a little in spring.<\/p>\n

A learning curve season so far for Anna Blinkova<\/h2>\n

This is epitomized by her 1st round exit in the ITF Surbiton Grass court tournament, losing to American Danielle Lao. Blinkova proceed to follow this up with a quarter finals loss to rising Belarussian, Aryna Sabalenka<\/strong> in three sets. This turned out to be a strong, ITF Aegon Manchester Trophy 2017<\/a>. The way Sabalenka was able to bully on\/boss key points, was reminiscent of what Serena Williams<\/strong> used to do to Martina Hingis<\/strong>. Blinkova has evidently done a great deal of soul-searching<\/strong> since that match.<\/p>\n

Elina Vesnina v Anna Blinkova head-to-head<\/h2>\n

World number 18 and unfortunately 17th seeded at this year\u2019s US Open – 2017 BNP Paribas Open Elina Vesnina won the above-mentioned Wimbledon match in three sets, two of them were close. This represents the only meeting between the two Russians.<\/p>\n

For the teenager and her camp, the focus will be on second serve points won. Vesnina\u2019s superiority in this sphere – 58%<\/strong> second serve points won against 52%<\/strong>, represents a focus point for Blinkova. Even though her final qualifying round match against America\u2019s Bernard Pera was impressive. The Russian\u2019s second serve percentage was a mere 50% (15\/30). This is the key to this match<\/strong>. Should Blinkova be able to up her game and even match Vesnina in this area \u2013 a shock is on the cards.<\/p>\n

The Potential Match of the US Open 2017, 1st Round<\/h4>\n

The previous meeting at Wimbledon was high in craft and quality. As matches go this must be up there in terms of the “if I could only watch a few US Open first round matches”. Vesnina, before this season, was predominantly a doubles specialist.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>