Women’s second seed Sofia Kenin said she would have a good cry after crashing out of the US Open yesterday and then start looking forward to Roland Garros.
Kenin, winner of the 2020 Australian Open, was bundled out of the last 16 at Flushing Meadows in straight sets by Elise Mertens of Belgium.
Kenin, the highest seeded player left in the tournament, lost 6-3, 6-3, in just 1hr 14 mins, leaving her pretty upset.
“I cried after already. Just trying to hold it back right now. Not happy about that match,” she told reporters.
Mertens, the 16th seed, will now play Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the quarter-finals.
Unseeded Azarenka came from a set down to oust 20th seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in 2hr 30min.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams battled into the quarter-finals of the US Open as top men’s seeds Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev sailed through to the last eight at Flushing Meadows.
Williams had to summon up every last ounce of strength to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three hard-fought sets.
The 38-year-old American needed almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
She will play TsvetanaPironkova for a place in the semi-finals after the Bulgarian ousted France’s Alize Cornet in another draining three-setter.
Pironkova, playing her first tournament in three years after a lengthy break in which she gave birth to her son, prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
In the men’s draw, second-seeded Thiem raced into the round of eight with a three-set demolition of Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Thiem dismantled the 20-year-old 15th seed 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-1 in 2hr 7min.
He will play Australia’s 21st seed Alex de Minaur for a spot in the semi-finals after the Australian breezed past unseeded Canadian VasekPospisil 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2, in 2hr 17 min.
Third seed Medvedev blew away unseeded American France Tiafoe 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 in only 1hr 38 min.
Medvedev will face compatriot AndreyRublev for a spot in the last four after the 10th seed ousted Italy’s sixth seed MatteoBerrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The men’s competition was blown wide open on Sunday after world number one Novak Djokovic was thrown out for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match.*AFP
