SHARAP-OVER
Maria’s comeback story ends at Open
EXIT the Russian intrigue.
Maria Sharapova managed to save three match points in her fourth-round battle with Anastasija Sevastova at the U.S. Open Sunday, but a finger blister, poor footwork and 51 unforced errors eventually conspired in Sharapova’s unraveling.
Once a champion in Flushing Meadows and now a wild card, Sharapova fell, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, on Arthur Ashe Stadium’s hard court. The loss concluded her first Grand Slam event in 19 months following a drug ban. During her stay in Queens, packed crowds cheered for her; Caroline Wozniacki was the only player to publicly complain about Sharapova not only being granted a wild card but being showcased so soon after her return to the tour. All four of Sharapova’s matches were played on Ashe.
“Ultimately, I can take a lot from this week,” Sharapova said. “It’s great to get that major out of the way. It was an incred- ible opportunity. I’m very thankful.”
Sharapova shrugged off criticism. Her time away was due to a positive drug test for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open. Last June, the International Tennis Federation meted out the punishment. Sharapova appealed, and it was reduced to 15 months. Sharapova maintained that she took the drug for years because of a magnesium deficiency and family history of diabetes. Suspension served, she missed more tourneys due to a forearm injury, but she played her way back into shape and made up for lost time. To start her New York stay, she beat second-seeded Simona Halep in the first round and followed through with wins over unseeded Timea Babos in three sets and fellow wild card Sofia Klein in straights.
“Just competing, you know, being in that competitive environment. That’s what I missed,” Sharapova said. “You can’t replicate that anywhere, especially at a Grand Slam. So for me to come out, Monday night was a special night for me. I will always remember it. I’m very grateful to have had that opportunity to bring it.”
Sevastova proved to be a difficult counterpart to figure out after a quick turnaround. The little Latvian found a calm by executing running forehands to knock off Sharapova. Sevastova also limited her mistakes to 14 unforced errors in reaching the quarterfinal against American Sloane Stephens. Sevastova made it to the same point in the bracket last year, and looked at home with a blue Giants hat in her post-match press conference. If she can advance past Stephens, Sevastova could potentially face Venus Williams in a semifinal. Williams defeated Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, following Sevastova on Ashe.
“I only have great memories here,” Sevastova said. “It helped me a lot because I knew I could play well here. So I came pretty confident.”
Sharapova, who won the Open in 2006, exhausted her reserves in defeat. She moved freely early on, leaving both feet to fire off forehand winners with her right hand. The righthander’s wiles were also on display as she was able to run down the ball before lofting lobs with her left hand on multiple occasions, including twice in one point.
Sevastova matched Sharapova’s craftiness, spinning the ball sideways and landing a drop shot from behind the baseline. Sharapova continued to charge at the net, and turned around a powerful forehand winner in the final game, but her efforts could not make up for her inefficiency. Down 2-0 in the third set, the trainer was called out by Sharapova, who said it was the first blister she has ever had.
“I think I allowed the match to become physical,” she said. “I don’t think I played as aggressive or was stepping in as much as I did in the first set, especially in the beginning of the match. She definitely has the matches behind her back.” ANDREW SCHWARTZ DAILY NEWS