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'Wow': Tennis world loses it over 'incredible' US Open drama

andrew reid
·5-min read
Pictured here, Czech Karolina Pliskova beats America's Amanda Anisimova at the US Open.
Czech Karolina Pliskova beat America's Amanda Anisimova in one of the best match so far at the US Open. Pic: Getty

Two-time grand slam runner-up Karolina Pliskova is counting her lucky stars after surviving a massive second round scare against American young gun Amanda Anisimova at the US Open.

In one of the most nerve-jangling matches of the tournament so far, Pliskova saved a match point before prevailing in a sea-sawing three-set thriller.

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The towering Czech hit 24 aces in the 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7) victory over the 75th-ranked American who only just turned 20 earlier in the week.

That ace total is the most in a women's singles match at Flushing Meadows since at least 1998.

The No. 4-seeded Pliskova sealed victory shortly before midnight in New York after trailing 5-2 in the final set tiebreaker.

She took the next four points for a match point at 6-5, but couldn’t convert it because Anisimova delivered a forehand volley winner.

The young American was one point from winning at 7-6 but netted a backhand to hand the ascendancy to Pliskova.

The Czech converted her second chance to seal the win after Anisimova put another backhand into the net.

“A bit lucky in the end,” Pliskova said. “You need that sometimes.”

Anisimova raced out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth set tiebreak after a brilliant display of nerveless power hitting.

However, the jitters and unforced errors that were nowhere to be seen in the first seven points, started creeping in to the 20-year-old's game as Pliskova turned the screws.

The Czech rattled of the next four points in a row to come back from the brink of defeat and put herself on the cusp of victory.

Anisimova dug deep to stave off that match point before winning an extraordinary rally to set up a match point of her own.

Seen here, Amanda Anisimova and Karolina Pliskova shake hands after their US Open epic.
Amanda Anisimova looked gutted after her loss to Karolina Pliskova. Pic: Getty

The sea-sawing thriller continued when Pliskova won the next two rallies to once again edge ahead in a dramatic showdown.

Anisimova refused to give in and kept up the aggressive approach that had put her in such good stead throughout the contest.

However, the young American couldn't conjure another great escape as she went out swinging, with an unforced error handing Pliskova a pulsating three-set victory.

Epic match leaves viewers in awe

The extraordinary scenes saw those fans who'd hung around until almost midnight in New York rise to their feet to applaud the incredible display from both players.

The drama also left the tennis world in a frenzy on social media, with many describing it as the match of the tournament so far.

Pliskova faces Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round after the Aussie pulled off a gutsy straight-sets win over Croatian Petra Martic.

Fresh off her Wimbledon quarter-final appearance, Tomljanovic held her nerve against the world No.32 to earn a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory.

Tomljanovic, who is ranked 46, has had a breakout grand slam season, also making the round of 16 at the French Open.

The 28-year-old Australian No.2 produced a dominant serving display against Martic, with 71 per cent of her first serves finding its mark.

Tomljanovic had never previously gone beyond the second round in New York.

with AAP

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