Petkovic gets comfortable in New York City

NEW YORK—Andrea Petkovic is an experienced veteran walking around the grounds at the US Open, and an expert at all things New York. Though she's German, by way of Bosnia, the 31-year-old has significant stakes in Brooklyn.

"I'm based half of my time in New York," she told Baseline. "I have a place with my boyfriend in Brooklyn, so I guess it's half of my city now."

Petkovic is getting to spend a lot of time in her half home this month, having played the new NYJTL Bronx Open leading into the US Open.

"I think it's a great preparation," she said of the Bronx. "I'm really glad that this tournament popped up all of a sudden."

Last week, the posted a strong win over world No. 34 Zhang Shaui before falling in a third-set tiebreaker to eventual finalist Camilia Giorgi. This week in New York, she scored a straight-set win over Mihaela Buzarnescu to set up a meeting with world No. 6 Petra Kvitova. On Thursday, she dismissed the Czech, 6-4, 6-4.

"I feel so happy. I’m always very focused when I play against her," Petkovic said on court. "I'm most pleased with the past two weeks, I’ve been really good with my mentality. I'm just trying to stay in the moment. It's been really working for me."

Petkovic has come a long way from her US Open debut in 2007, and from her first journey to New York City.

"The first time ever I was terrified," she said. "I was so scared of the city. I was staying somewhere in Midtown. I just managed to walk around in one block—that was the radius that I was moving in. I would go to the coffee shop across the street and back. The only nutrition I got was room service."

The world No. 88 has enjoyed past success in Flushing Meadows, having reached the quarterfinals in 2011, the same year she reached the final eight at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. She would finish that season ranked No. 9.

In the years since, the German has expanded her radius greatly.

"I prefer Brooklyn to Manhattan, but if I'm in Manhattan I'm probably downtown in East Village and the Lower East Side," she said. "That's where many of my friends live and we have two dive bars that we just circle around. You can always find them there—me less because I have to play."

On Thursday in Louis Armstrong Stadium, she got to play in front of them.

"[This is] my favorite city in the world," she said. "I'm so happy because all of my friends are here. I'm really glad that I could win in front of them."

Wake up every morning with Tennis Channel Live at the US Open starting at 8 a.m. ET. For three hours leading up to the start of play, Tennis Channel's team will break down upcoming matches, review tournament storylines, breaking news and player developments.

Tennis Channel's encore, all-night match coverage will begin every evening at 11 p.m. ET, with the exception of earlier starts on Saturday and Sunday of championship weekend.