Anastasia Gasanova is perhaps the name to remember this first week of tennis in 2021. Karolina Pliskova, seed n ° 3 to Abu Dhabi, faced this Russian player, unknown to the general public and even to observers, it must be admitted. The confrontation seemed unbalanced between an unknown Russian player and a Pliskova who aimed for the title. And yet … The exploit took place. 292nd world, Anastasia Gasanova, who pulled out of qualifying before making short work of Mona Barthel in the first round, dominated the Czech 6-2, 6-4 in 1h17.
The Australian Open teaser from February 8 to 21, 2021
An exceptional performance of Gasanova who had never faced a top 100 player before this week and who is playing her first major tournament draw WTA. His greatest victory before had been against Xinyu Wang in October 2019, 142nd in the world at the time. But who is this stranger who produced magnificent tennis this week and who won the match of her life on Saturday?
First win against a Top 100 player! 🤩
Anastasia Gasanova defeats the No.3 seed Ka. Pliskova, 6-2, 6-4.#AbuDhabiWTA pic.twitter.com/a7Ch256t45
– wta (@WTA) January 9, 2021
A discreet course among the Juniors
In Juniors, the Russian has never really been talked about. The “99” had all the same reached the 42nd place in the world for Girls without however having prestigious tournaments to its name: two Grade 5, a grade 3 and a grade 2. For the anecdote, in 2015, during theAustralian Open Girls, the Russian had beaten Fiona Ferro, 6-3, 6-4. A nice course but which did not break bricks at the time and did not suggest that Gasanova would have a great career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxn00SixRlk
“It wasn’t me on the pitch. I was so sure of myself …”
Moreover, his debut in pro is not overwhelming. Among large, Anastasia Gasanova played his first tournament in 2013 at just 14 years old. But since then, the native of Saratov did not dazzle. Six titles, five $ 10,000 and one $ 25,000, a best ranking in 261st place in 2019 and a career prize money of just under $ 90,000. This Saturday’s performance against Karolina Pliskova, former world number 1, was unpredictable and totally unexpected. “It wasn’t me in the field. I was so sure of myself … When I’m on the court I’m a different person, I’m angrier. In normal life I think I’m a nice person but on the court I’m angry“, she confided after the meeting. And it may not be over because the Russian’s level of play is remarkable. For a place in quarters, the amazing Gasanova will challenge Sara Sorribes. There will still be a nice move to do. Everything is possible for her now.
World No. 292 Anastasia Gasanova after beating #6 Karolina Pliskova on her WTA Tour debut: ‘It was not me on the court. I was so sure in myself… When I step on court as a different person, I’m more angry. In normal life, I think I’m a kind person but on court I’m an angry one’
— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) January 9, 2021
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