The Malta Independent on Sunday
Sharapova through to US Open round of 16, John Isner eliminated
Tennis
Maria Sharapova has beaten American Sofia Kenin 7-5, 6-2 to reach the US Open round of 16.
Sharapova, who received a wild card to appear in her first Grand Slam event since serving a 15-month doping ban, struggled at times with the counterpunching, moonballing Kenin, who committed less than half of the Russian’s 33 unforced errors.
But Sharapova eventually prevailed on power, ripping 36 winners to Kenin’s six.
Sharapova next faces 16thseeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who earlier downed Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3.
Sharapova fought off a tough challenge to take the first set from Kenin 7-5 in their thirdround match.
Sharapova, appearing in her first Grand Slam event after serving a 15-month doping ban, sprayed 28 unforced errors to Kenin’s eight.
Both the 18-year-old Kenin and the 30-year-old Sharapova received wild cards into the US Open.
John Isner, the highest-ranked American man, is out of the US Open.
Mischa Zverev, the 23rd seed from Germany, ousted the No. 10 Isner 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to reach the fourth round.
Zverev never lost his serve, and broke the hard-serving Isner three times. Zverev also took advantage of 41 unforced errors by Isner, compared to just seven of his own.
Zverev, who reached the Australian open quarterfinals in January, has a chance to match that feat at Flushing Meadows if he can beat his next opponent and the last American man left, Sam Querrey.
American Sam Querrey is through to the round of 16 at the US Open, equaling his best performance at Flushing Meadows.
The 17th-seeded Querrey blasted 19 aces and 49 winners on his way to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Radu Albot of Moldova.
Querrey, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals this year, has previously gone as far as the fourth round at the US Open in 2008 and 2010.
Venus Williams is into the fourth round of another major after beating Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3, 6-4.
The No. 9 seed reached the second week for the seventh straight major, the longest active streak in women’s tennis. It’s the first time since 2010 that she reached the fourth round in every major.
However, Williams was eliminated earlier Friday from a chance at the No. 1 ranking when Garbine Muguruza reached the round of 16.
Third-seeded Garbine Muguruza needed a little over an hour to move into the US Open fourth round.
Muguruza, this year’s Wimbledon champion, defeated 31st-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-1. The Spaniard has yet to lose a set at Flushing Meadows this year and has dropped only nine games.
Next up for Muguruza is twotime Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the No. 13 seed, who beat 18th-seeded Caroline Garcia 6-0, 6-4.
Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov is the youngest man to reach the US Open’s fourth round since Michael Chang was 17 in 1989.
The 18-year-old Shapovalov advanced to the round of 16 at a major tournament for the first time when Kyle Edmund of Britain stopped playing because of a neck injury.
Sloane Stephens is into the US Open’s fourth round, something she last did in 2013.
The 24-year-old American won for the 11th time in her past 13 matches as she continues her comeback from foot surgery, beating Ashleigh Barty of Australia 6-2, 6-4.
Past US Open champion Marin Cilic made 80 unforced errors and was beaten in the third round by 29th-seeded Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4.
Cilic won the 2014 title at Flushing Meadows. His loss means there will be a first-time Grand Slam finalist this year from the bottom half of the draw. Only one man left on that side of the bracket has even made it as far as the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament.
Schwartzman is into the fourth round at a major for the first time.
Top women's seed Karolina Pliskova survived a match point and evened her thirdround match against 27thseeded Zhang Shuai of China at a set apiece.
Pliskova was down 6-3 and 54 and facing match point when Zhang committed a backhand error. Pliskova went on to win the next two points and the next two games to close out the second set 7-5.
Pliskova received attention from the trainer on her right forearm before beginning play in the third set which she won 6-4.
Fognini suspended from US Open for potential ‘major offence'
Fabio Fognini was suspended from the US Open yesterday and faces a possible permanent ban from Grand Slam tournaments while it is determined if he committed a “major offence” during his first-round singles loss.
Fognini also could be fined up $250,000 for violations of the Grand Slam’s code of conduct.
The Grand Slam board said Fognini’s provisional suspension went into effect immediately, so he was withdrawn from the doubles tournament, where he was into the third round with fellow Italian Simone Bolelli.
Fognini was fined $24,000 by the US Open for unsportsmanlike conduct during his 6-4, 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-0 loss to Stefano Travaglia on Wednesday. He was cited by the tournament for three violations, including one incident in which he insulted a female chair umpire. His fines were for $15,000, $5,000 and $4,000.
The board said the major offences were under the sections of Article IV dealing with “aggravated behaviour” and “conduct contrary to the integrity of the game.” Violation of either section could lead to the permanent suspension from the four major tournaments and the $250,000 penalty.