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Jule Niemeier at the US Open (picture from the day before)
Photo: IMAGO/Paul Zimmer
Tennis player Jule Niemeier has reached the third round at the US Open in New York.
The Wimbledon quarterfinalist defeated the world number 38 on Thursday.
Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan with 6:4, 6:3.
On Saturday, the 23-year-old will play either Russia's Anastassija Potapova or China's Zheng Qinwen to qualify for the round of 16.
Niemeier is the only remaining German tennis player at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
For the first time in 38 years, there was no German professional in the second round of the hard court tournament in Flushing Meadows Park.
Due to the cancellations of the Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who was not quite fit, and the pregnant Angelique Kerber, as well as the bad luck, the expectations in the German camp were very low anyway.
Niemeier finds his way into the game after falling behind, Świątek easily continues
The German initially had problems against Russian-born Putinzewa, who has been playing for Kazakhstan since 2012 and whom Niemeier's coach Christopher Kas described as a "defense artist".
But after falling 3-0 in the first set, Niemeier found her rhythm much better and continued her strong performance from the opening win against former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.
With her dynamism and toughness she drove the more experienced Putintseva to despair.
For the first time in her career, Niemeier is in the main draw of the US Open, it is only her third Grand Slam tournament.
With the two wins at the start, Niemeier will make a big leap forward in the world rankings from the current 108th place.
Iga Świątek is already at the top of the world rankings.
The title favorite, who was seeded at number one, has moved into the third round in an urgent procedure.
The 21-year-old gave Sloane Stephens, who won the title in 2017, no chance in her 6-3, 6-2 win.
Świątek now meets Lauren Davis of the USA and still has her sights set on her second major triumph of the year after the French Open.
cev/dpa/sid