Dynamic American teenager CiCi Bellis became the youngest player to win a US Open match in nearly two decades. In what was expected to be a sleepy victory for Dominika Cibukova, a finalist at this year’s Australian Open, Bellis roared to victory in a 6-4 third set that capped some amazing play by the energetic young woman. Cibukova was seeded 12th. Bellis won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
CiCi Bellis, who was born the year Serena Williams won her first US Open, won the USTA Girls’ National Championship (18 and under) to earn a wild card berth at the Open. The New York crowd was galvanized by the performance of the young Californian. Bellis’s world ranking going into the match was No. 1,208.