First-round frustration but more Grand Slam experience for Team Bath’s Anna Smith at US Open

01 September 2017

Team Bath MCTA Tennis player Anna Smith suffered a narrow first-round defeat at the US Open on Thursday as she contested her fourth Grand Slam tournament of 2017.

Smith and partner Nicole Melichar made a great start to their women’s doubles match against Raquel Atawo and Sabine Lisicki, breaking serve twice to take the first set 6-3 on Court 14.

However, their opponents fought back to win the second set 7-5 before edging the decider 6-3 in a hard-fought match that lasted just over two hours.

Smith, coached by Dave Sammel and Ian MacDonald at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, was making her second appearance at Flushing Meadows and has now contested nine of the last ten Grand Slams.

Fellow Team Bath MCTA player Marcus Daniell starts his US Open men’s doubles campaign with Marcelo Demoliner on Friday, taking on Spain’s Pablo Carreño – who is through to the last 32 of the men’s singles – and Fernando Verdasco on Court 7.

Click here for more information about the international tennis programme at Team Bath.

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