Florida’s Anisimova, Kenin Lead Record U.S. Players into R16 at US Open Girls’ Juniors

Amanda Anisimova

Led by No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova of Hallendale Beach, a record 10 players reached the round of 16 in the girls’ draw at the US Open, two of them from Florida.

It was the most ever at the US Open since the junior singles draws expanded to 64 players in 1984.

The 14-year-old Anisimova also reached the second round of the women’s qualifying for the main draw.

Another advancing from Florida was Pembroke Pines’ Sofia Kenin, the No. 8 seed. The 17-year-old also played in the women’s main draw for the second consecutive year, this year gaining entry by winning the USTA Pro Circuit’s US Open Wild Card Challenge, capturing the title at the $50,000 FSP Gold River Women’s Challenger in Sacramento, Calif., three weeks ago.

Other American girls looking to advance into the quarterfinals were No. 5 seed Kayla Day, No. 9 Usue Maitane Arconada, No. 16 seed Alexandra Sanford, Ashley Lahey, Vanessa Ong, Taylor Johnson, Kylie McKenzie and Carson Branstine.

“You have so many up-and-coming young women already on the tour, and then to see this wave of great junior girls coming behind them is really, really encouraging,” said USTA Player Development General Manager Martin Blackman. “It really bodes well for the future of American tennis on the women’s side.”

Americans scheduled to face each other in the quarterfinals were the No. 8 Kenin vs. Lahey, Sanford vs. Ong, and No. 5 Day vs. McKenzie.

To see the updated girls’ draw go to www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/index.html?promo=subnav&event=GS.