In round three, the victory goes to Niemeier, swaying to the beat of ice packs.
Julia Niemeier, the 25-year-old Dortmund tennis prodigy, held her own against the New York midday sun, chilling her head with ice packs. Triumphing in the heat challenge, she advanced to the third round of a major tournament for the first time in two years. She outmatched the Japanese competitor, Moyuka Uchijima, with a score of 6-4, 6-0 during the US Open.
"It's nothing short of astounding to make it to the third round," Niemeier shared with Sportdeutschland.TV. "I'm overjoyed that I managed to pull ahead in the second set."
Conquering her career slump
From the get-go, Niemeier seized control over the match in scorching temperatures of 34°C. Uchijima, who had previously ousted Tamara Korpatsch, fell victim to Niemeier's swift play. Niemeier will face either Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or Russian Erika Andrejewa in the next round. Unfortunately, her dear friend Eva Lys was unable to advance beyond the second round, succumbing to Czech Marie Bouzkova with a narrow 2-6, 6-1, 5-7 loss.
Unstoppable in 2022
In 2022, Niemeier revolutionized her game, reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals and the US Open round of 16. However, she experienced a downturn, plummeting to a ranking of 175th worldwide. This year, following a steadfast recovery, she improved her rank to 101st and is on the brink of rejoining the top 100 post-US Open. "It wasn't a walk in the park, but it's rewarding to know we persevered through it all," she said genuinely. "I have a team that has always believed in me, and now I get to return the favor."
An entirely new player
Two years after her rise, Niemeier feels like she is playing, and living, on a whole new level. She's developed both as a player and as an individual, with Michael Geserer, who became her mentor at the end of last year, playing a significant role in her transformation. "Julia is a remarkable talent with immense potential," her teammate, Eva Lys, commented.
Niemeier mastered the pace of the match, winning points through her powerful shots or her opponent's mistakes. At 4-3, she attended to a blister on her left foot, applying ointment and bandages, confidently consulting her notes like she had before. Both players relied on the cooling air from a hose and the relief of chilly towels to combat the relentless sun.
Niemeier's decisive serve secured the first set with a final score of 6-4 in 61 minutes. Uchijima's challenge waned. Niemeier dominated the second half of the match, winning six consecutive games to breeze into the third round and pocket a prize of $215,000.
Niemeier's potential adversary in the upcoming US Open rounds may very well be Zheng Qinwen from China. Despite her successful season, Niemeier's career once took a dramatic downturn, hitting a low of 175th worldwide.
Additional Insights
- Niemeier had a remarkable run at the Linz Open in 2025, defeating Sofia Kenin in the first round[1].
At the Australian Open 2025, she outplayed [Q] Maja Chwalinska in the first round[2].
During the Paula Badosa run at Bad Homburg, Niemeier reached the quarterfinals with dominant victories over Arantxa Rus and herself, before falling to Diana Shnaider in the final round[3]. According to the sources, her ranking remained steadily strong throughout the season, although specific details were not provided[4].
To get the latest information on her tournament schedule, you can check the official US Open website, surf tennis news websites, or tune into sport updates on social media platforms.
