Shelby Rogers of the United States, ranked 31st in the world, will face Viktória Kumová of the Czech Republic in the second round of the 2022 US Open on Wednesday, August 31.
While they have never competed at the highest level, Rogers did face Kuzmova in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020.
Kuzmova had won the match in straight sets.
Rogers appeared to be on the back foot and struggling to live up to her favourites billing for much of her first round match against Arantxa Rus.
Rogers managed to turn things around late in the second set and later tighten the screws on her opponent to advance to round two. Rogers eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round in a match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
Rus only needed one break of serve to win the first set, and while Rogers struggled in the second set as well, she managed to get past her opponent’s serve when it mattered most – in the eighth game.
Rogers broke early in the deciding set as well, and for the third time in a row, that turned out to be the only break of the set which carried the American through to her 12th hard court victory of the season to go with her eight defeats.
Kuzmova, on the other hand, had entered this year’s US Open as a qualifier, having beaten all three of her opponents to make the main draw. Not surprisingly, the 183rd-ranked Kuzmova was 5/2 in her first-round match against Sara Sorribes Tormo.
The fact that she barely broke a sweat while defeating Sorribes Tormo 6-3, 6-4 in their first match speaks volumes about Kuzmova’s confidence.
That from a player who had never advanced past the first round of the US Open.
She now faces a tough opponent in Rogers, but can she be dismissed based on her performance in this tournament thus far?
For the second match in running, Kuzmova has been given virtually no chance but you can expect her to come out all guns firing and make things difficult for her opponent.
Expecting her to win a set here!
Tip: Kuzmova to win a set – Yes: 6/4
