Simona Halep advances to round 2 of the US Open 2019

 WHAT HAPPENED: After back-to-back first-round losses in Flushing Meadows—including last year, when she was the No. 1 seed—Simona Halep overcame a tough challenge from lucky loser Nicole Gibbs to advance to the second round at the 2019 US Open with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory

Karolina Pliskova into third round of the us open 2017. Nicole Gibbs out

Karolina Pliskova is officially into Round 3 of the 2017 US Open.

But not without a fight.

It took the Czech three sets to pull a win out over her American qualifying opponent Nicole Gibbs, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

A lithe 6-foot-1, Pliskova towered over her 5-foot-6 American opponent, in both height and tennis prowess.

But that didn’t deter the small-but-mighty Gibbs, who is currently ranked No. 127 in the world. The hometown hero immediately felt at home in Arthur Ashe, taking a large lead up a double break 4-1 in the first set. The Ohio native saved three game points and took the set on serve, much to the thrill of the pro-American crowd.

Pliskova didn’t stay down long, taking the second set.

The third set saw the two going game for game, until Pliskova made a break in game six of the third set, acing Gibbs. In total, Pliskova put away 29 winners, 27 of which were results of her commanding forehand.

Serena Williams win's over Nicole Gibbs into australian open 2017

Serena Williams has wasted little time in reaching the fourth round at Melbourne Park after unceremoniously dispatching her American countrywoman Nicole Gibbs 6-1 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

“I was so pumped up going against my first two opponents,” Williams said.

“But I think that helped me out today. She started out really, really well. Started with a lot of energy.”

Despite unexpectedly dropping the penultimate game when serving for the match – perhaps some tension in closing it out – it was an otherwise clinical display from the No.2 seed in just the pair’s second meeting, as she simply outgunned Gibbs in every department to take the match in just 63 minutes.

Williams was circumspect about her progress at Melbourne Park thus far.

“I have been doing the things I have been doing in practice, and hopefully I can build up on this,” she said. “That's all I want to do.”

Nicole Gibbs into round 2. Us open 2016. The Best moments

Eugenie Bouchard into Quarter final of the shenzen open 2016

The No.6-seeded Canadian had a much simpler day at the office on Wednesday, dropping serve in the first game of the match but then reeling off 12 of the next 17 games to roll past American qualifier Gibbs, 6-4, 6-2, breaking serve one last time to win after just 67 minutes on the court.

"It was a solid match from me. I think I was able to improve off of my first round," Bouchard said.

"But first and foremost I was able to play another whole match healthy, with no pain and no symptoms."

Bouchard is now through to her first WTA quarterfinal since last year's  Australian open 2016

WILLIAMS PASA RONDA EN STANFORD 2012

WILLIAMS SIRVE ANTE GIBSS EN STANFORD 2012

 Serena Williams_Nicole Gibbs  62 61

Williams sigue dinamitando a sus rivales, esta vez a su comatriota y desconocida Gibss, que nada pudo hacer en un partido que parecía una pista de entrenamiento y no un partido oficial.

El "efeto Williams" no ha desaparecido, y la americana tiene puestos su ojos en el último grande del año y de la temporada.