Brady advances; Rogers out
Americans split with chance to reach U.S. Open semis
Relying on a powerful serve and forehand, Brady has lost NEW YORK — Playing her first only 24 games in five matches. Grand Slam quarterfinal, JenniThe last two women’s quarfer Brady understandably was terfinals are Wednesday: Serena nervous. Williams meets Tsvetana Pi
So her mission was how to ronkova, and Victoria Azarenka handle those nerves. takes on Elise Mertens.
“I just tried to pretend it was On the men’s side, Alexander a first-round match, and I was Zverev stumbled early before happy with the way I started,” rallying to beat Borna Coric of Brady, 25, said Tuesday after Croatia 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 6-3. beating Yulia Putintseva of Down a set and a break early, Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2 in the U.S. then so close to trailing by two Open at Flushing Meadows. sets to one, Zverev grabbed 14 of “Then I was able to keep the mo15 points in a pivotal stretch on mentum and build off of that.” the way to earning his first semi
Six-time U.S. Open champ and final berth at Flushing Meadows. ESPN commentator Chris Evert “It’s obviously a great accomsays the tournament’s subdued plishment, but I don’t want to atmosphere — no fans in the stop here,” the 6-foot-6-inch stands because of the coronaZverev said. “I hope that I can virus pandemic — likely is a continue the way I’m doing.” reason Brady, the 28th-seeded The key juncture was with American, is making some noise. Zverev serving at 15-30 while
With fans in the stands, Evert down 6-5 in the third set. Two believes Brady’s jitters could more points, and that set would have been worse. belong to Coric.
“If you had 22,000 screaming But Zverev won the next three fans, that might be a little bit of points with a backhand passing a disruption and a distraction shot, an overhead and a 135 for her,” said Evert. “Right now, mph service winner to get to a she’s playing in her little bubble, tiebreaker, then dominated that, she’s only in her head, and that’s too, before opening the fourth producing her best tennis.” set by holding at love.
Tuesday offered an opporGrand Slam event and is seeded “Huge point,” Zverev said. “But tunity for two U.S. women to in a major tournament for the this is what I’ve been doing the reach the semis, but 93rd-ranked first time. past six months. I’ve been in the Shelby Rogers fell to two-time Brady, of Pennsylvania, agreed gym. I’ve been on the track. … Grand Slam champion and it was easier to overcome butterThis is the moment where it pays fourth-seeded Naomi Osakaoff.”offliesbecausetherewerenofans.
Japan 6-3, 6-4. She said she has struggled with e men’s quarterfinals on
Rogers, 27, from South Carodoubt in her career. the bottom half of the draw are lina, had won all three previous “I’m pretty lucky to have just Wednesday: No. 2 seed Domimatchups against Osaka. stuck to it, and just really connic Thiem versus No. 21 Alex de
Brady trained as a youngster tinue to just play and practice Minaur, and No. 3 Daniil Medat the Evert Tennis Academy in and compete and get better,” she vedev meeting No. 10 Andrey Florida. She’s playing in her 13th said. “Here I am today.” Rublev.