By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 31, 2016
The bright lights, big city are not troubling Roberta Vinci in her quest to back up her magical 2015 run.
Photo Source: Getty Images
Roberta Vinci has looked very convincing in her first two matches at this year’s U.S. Open. Last year’s runner-up produced one of the most sensational upsets in tennis history in 2015 when she ended Serena Williams’ bid for the Calendar Slam in the semis, and though she’s playing under the spotlight this year in Queens, Vinci has been unflappable in two straight-set victories.
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Today she eased past New Jersey native Christina McHale, 6-1, 6-3, to book a third-round clash with Germany’s Carina Witthoeft or Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva.
“I'm so happy that I won two matches here, tomorrow rest, and then focus for the next round,” Vinci said.
It hasn’t really been a banner year for Vinci but she has done enough to stay in the Top 10. The Italian improved to 19-12 on the season and 3-0 against McHale.
“It's nice of course to come back. But of course you have a lot of pressure,” she said. “Now I'm 7 in the world; a lot of points to defend. But probably the key is don't think about this. Just play every single match. Stay positive. Just think about the opponent, about my game. Don't think that I have points.”
She added: “And then, of course, it's better to be No. 7 than 43 in the world, of course.”
Kvitova Relaxed and Rested in New York
No. 14 Petra Kvitova notched a 7-6(2), 6-3 win over Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay on Arthur Ashe Stadium to book a third-round encounter with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. The Czech, a quarterfinalist here last year, says she is starting a new tradition in New York, which involves less practice. Kvitova says she stays off the grounds on her off days to avoid the commute. She does fitness and relaxes and gets a practice in on her match day on site.
So what does Kvitova do on her off days?
“Almost nothing,” she said. “Well, I do have a fitness, of course. I have to do something otherwise it's bad. And then I did shopping yesterday a little bit. I had a coffee with Katie (Spellman, her publicist). I'm just trying to rest and sleep. I'm not sleeping the best during the night, so I just need more energy.”
So far so good for Kvitova, who is trying to find a way to up her performance in the year’s final major. “I think it's getting better and I'm getting to the good rhythm,” she said.