CiCi Bellis became the youngest player to win a US Open match since Anna Kournikova in 1996 when she beat Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova in the first-round of the tournament Monday 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
Bellis, who turned 15 in April, is so young that she is just beginning her sophomore year of high school (and she already won a match at the US Open!). Bellis earned her spot in the draw as a wild card by winning the US 18 and under championship. She is the No. 2-ranked junior in the world and recognizes some of her strengths and weaknesses.
“I’m really an aggressive player, but I’m consistent and wait for the right shot to dictate,” Bellis said of her playing style in an interview with ESPN Wednesday.
In a 2013 story by the San Jose Mercury News, Bellis said her competitive style and all-court game were her strengths.
“One of the best parts of my game is I compete really well,” CiCi said. “I think, shot-wise. I’ve been working on my serve, but I wouldn’t say that is one of my strengths. I have a good forehand and a good backhand. I like to attack the net. I’m an all-court player.”
Asked for some areas of her game she wants to work on, Bellis mentioned her serve.
“I think definitely I need to work on my serve a little bit more. Try to make that harder, more aggressive, more of a weapon.”
It’s no coincidence that Bellis described her style as aggressive; that was exactly what Cibulkova noted following her defeat.
“I didn’t expect her to play so aggressive,” Cibulkova said after losing the match. “I thought she was a player who just puts the ball back and runs around. The first set went so fast.”
Bellis is from Atherton, Calif., which is an exclusive area of Silicon Valley. Her father works for a private equity firm and her mother played junior tennis who went on to play collegiately at Indiana. Bellis grew up with a tennis court in her backyard, learned how to play at a country club and is home schooled by her mother.
Bellis will face Zarina Diyas in the second round on Thursday.
