Pliskova sails past Brady; underfire Sharapova exits
new york — World number one Karolina Pliskova needed just 46 minutes to defeat American Jennifer Brady 6-1 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium and punch her ticket to the quarterfinals on Monday.
After facing a match point during her third-round battle against Zhang Shuai on Saturday, Pliskova was never pushed by Brady, who failed to find her groove on a sunny day that cast a severe shadow across center court.
Brady struggled mightily with her service game, where she was only able to connect on 39 percent of her first serves compared to Pliskova’s 67 percent.
Brady also struggled to read Pliskova’s powerful serve and failed to convert either of her two break point chances.
“I think she was a little bit nervous,” Pliskova said of the 22-yearold Brady during an on-court interview following the match.
“It was her first time on Ashe so
It has been a really great ride. Ultimately, I can take a lot from this week
Maria Sharapova
I tried to take advantage of that.”
Next up for Pliskova is either 20thseeded American CoCo Vandeweghe or fellow Czech Lucie Safarova, who play later on Monday. Earlier on Sunday night, Maria Sharapova’s Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban ended with a fourthround defeat but the former world number one considered it a major step in her comeback.
Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova rallied to eliminate the five-time Grand Slam champion 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking a quarterfinal against American Sloane Stephens, who ousted Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Sharapova, the 2006 US Open winner, was able to find the positives after making 51 unforced errors to only 14 by Sevastova, whose 21 winners were half the 30-yearold Russian’s total. “Reflecting back on the week, I can be happy,” Sharapova said. “It has been a really great ride. Ultimately, I can take a lot from this week.”
Tuesday’s other quarterfinal will match Czech 13th seed Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, against US ninth seed Venus Williams, seeking her eighth Slam title and third US Open crown.
Kvitova eliminated Spanish third seed and two-time Slam winner Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 while Williams beat 35th-ranked Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
In Sharapova’s first Slam since she tested positive for the banned blood booster meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, she ousted second-ranked Simona Halep in the first round and served notice to any contender her game remains formidable.
“She played unbelievable throughout the first and second set and I just kept fighting, running for every ball,” Sevastova said. “I was confident. I was feeling it. But still you have to beat her. She was playing one of the best matches here.”
Sharapova returned from her suspension in April, was snubbed for a French Open wildcard and missed Wimbledon with a thigh injury but received a US Open wildcard despite only one hardcourt tuneup match due to a left forearm injury.
“It’s great to get that major out of the way,” Sharapova said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. I did my best and I can be proud of that.”
Sharapova is expected to jump from 146th to around 100th in the world rankings. Williams is the oldest woman entered at 37 but was this year’s Wimbledon and Australian Open runner-up. She hasn’t reached three Slam finals in a year since 2002.
“I’m focused on myself and trying to be as aggressive as possible,” Williams said. — Reuters / AFP
51
Unforced errors by Sharapova led to her defeat
46
Minutes is all what Pliskova needed to beat Brady