Simona Halep Avenges Her Last Year’s Loss by Steamrolling Over Amanda Anisimova at French Open 2020

It was World No.2 Simona Halep vs the 19-year-old young prodigy Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the French Open 2020. The epic encounter was at the renowned ‘Philippe-Chatrier’ court. It was the top-seeded Halep who steamrolled over Anisimova 6-0, 6-1.

Halep was coming in the Roland Garros after winning the Italian Open 2020 while Anisimova was one of the semi-finalists of the French Open 2019. The stakes of the battle were already high and it did not disappoint Halep’s fans.

In the only head-to-head battle previously, Anisimova was able to defeat the Romanian. But, this time, it was revenge time for Halep. She not only balanced the head-to-head record but leveled it in dominant fashion.

Set-1: The Supremacy of Simona Halep

Halep won the first point of the match due to an unforced error by the American. She eventually went ahead, broke first, and won the first game because of a double fault by Anisimova. The longest rally of the game came in the second game itself, with Halep earning the point with a backhand winner. The second game ended after six minutes and 55 seconds, with the Romanian extending her lead.

At 0-30 down in the fourth game, Halep showed why she is the top-seeded player. She won four straight points to take a 4-0 lead to consolidate the double break. In the fifth game, the World No.2 broke again to increase her lead to 5-0 in the first set.

The sixth game was no different as Halep completely dominated the 23-minute set. Anisimova tried hard but had no answers to the powerful forehands and backhands of Halep. She made too many unforced errors and never looked comfortable in the set.

Set-2: The Dominance continues

The second set began with the American committing yet another mistake and losing a point. But, the 19-year-old made some terrific serves to clinch the opening game of the second set. It was the first game that she won in the match, and in retrospect, it was her last game in the drubbing.

In the second game, something fascinating took place as Anisimova delivered a drop to make Halep lean forward. After returning the drop, Anisimova hit a quick shot, but to her surprise, Halep returned it with a superb volley. The Romanian ultimately won the game to even out the set at 1-1.

Halep broke again in the second set by winning the third game and was now leading 2-1. In the next game, it was Anisimova who gained the applause of the audience by a well-placed and delicate drop. Unfortunately, the teenager was nowhere near Halep’s momentum and lost yet another game. The fifth game went to deuce, but Halep broke yet again to take a 4-1 lead.

The 2018 French Open champion won the next game and needed just one game to seal her spot at the fourth round of the French Open 2020. The seventh game went to deuce again because of another double fault by Anisimova. Halep won the advantage but lost it because of an unforced error. She earned a second match-point and sealed advanced with no butterflies. She thus won the set 6-1 and the match 6-0 and 6-1.