Claro Colsanitas Open, Bogota

Championship Match: [76] Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. [138] Astra Sharma (AUS)

In 2018, Anisimova lost the chance for her first title in Japan when Su-Wei Hsieh defeated her in straight sets after she had practically dominated the field. Today, she wanted a different result; however, things did not start off well for the seventeen-year-old American.

FIRST SET NERVES

Winning this final would be significant for both players since it would be the first WTA title for either player. Sharma was in her first final; however, Anisimova had gotten to this stage previously. Perhaps the American had a slight advantage; however, the Australian was not about to concede without a fight. There were seven breaks of serve in the first set as each player struggled to take control of the match and their nerves. In the end it was the Australian who took the lead, winning the first set 6-4.

HOW WOULD THE AMERICAN RESPOND?

Things looked dismal for the American who went down an early break to start the second set. All Sharma had to was hold serve and the title would be hers. Yet, that was asking too much as once again she succumbed to a bout of nerves and could not find her serve. The Australian did not get discouraged though, she kept fighting and broke back; however, once again, her serve would desert her at the end of the set and the American won the set, 6-4.

TOTAL DOMINATION BY THE AMERICAN

Once Anisimova secured the second set, she was a different player. She served better and kept the pressure on her opponent with some well-placed backhand shots. She protected her serve better, saving both break points against her serve while breaking her opponent twice. Sharma’s struggle with nerves continued and her serve became too much of a liability to keep her in the match. The American had no such problems and served it out emphatically to get the 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory and her first title.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (main image from Julian Finney/Getty Images AsiaPac-Amanda Anisimova)