Return long time coming for Ahn
Kristie Ahn waited 11 years between her first U.S. Open singles appearance and her next one, which began last week with three victories.
“My life has come full circle, and I feel like I can finally put the 2008 U.S. Open to rest,” said Ahn, 27, whose tournament ended with a 6-1, 6-1 loss to 25th seed Elise Mertens in a fourthround match Monday.
Ahn’s journey has included an unexpected kinship with Dinara Safina, the now-retired Russian player who beat Ahn 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round in 2008.
As Ahn progressed through this year’s tournament, Safina, 33, sent words of encouragement to her on social media and in private messages.
Seeded sixth at the 2008 U.S. Open, Safina was in the midst of an ascent that would take her to the No. 1 ranking the next spring. She said her win over Ahn, then 16, had been “just another match.”
“I came in playing really solid, and I was in my best shape,” said Safina, who made the semifinals, where she lost to Serena Williams. “I played a really good match. Honestly, I don’t think I gave her any chances to win. But I remember everyone I played … I always remember.”
Years later, Safina was coaching another player, Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine, at a small tournament in Dothan, Ala., and she spotted Ahn.
“When I saw her there, I was like: ‘Oh my God, I played against you! Remember?’ And she couldn’t believe I remembered her,” Safina said. “And since then — thank God for Instagram — I’m following her and her results. I’m really happy for her that finally she’s breaking through and doing great.”
Safina said the main difference between players of her calibre and those like Ahn, who have struggled outside the top 100, is confidence.
“The only difference between those players in challengers and the ones who make it on tour is we believe much more in ourselves, that’s the thing,” Safina said. “I told her to believe more in herself.”
In men’s action Monday, No. 6 Alexander Zverev was undone by 17 double-faults and bowed out to No. 20 Diego Schwartzman 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
No. 24 Matteo Berrettini gave Italy its first U.S. Open men’s quarterfinalist since 1977 with a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over Andrey Rublev.
He will next play No. 13 Gael Monfils, who overwhelmed Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.