Maria Timofeeva advanced at the US Open with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Tamara Zidansek, taking the match in straight sets. The key was her serving efficiency: Timofeeva put 81% of first serves in play and won 60% of those points, while Zidansek managed only 47% on her first serve.
Timofeeva raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set with breaks in games two and four, then closed it out 6-3 despite Zidansek's reply in game five. The second set swung back and forth: Zidansek twice levelled after early breaks, but Timofeeva struck decisively in games nine and eleven, converting her fourth break of the set to seal it at 7-5.
The match was decided on return and big points: Timofeeva saved five of nine break points and converted six of her own, while also hitting 25 winners to Zidansek's 11. She won 43 return points to 26, outplaying Zidansek from the back of the court in every key metric.