Wozniacki is dumped as Sharapova feels the love
EKATERINA MAKAROVA closed out a marathon day at the US Open with a surprise triumph over fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki as the Russian registered a first win in eight meetings against the former world number one and a place in the third round.
After rain washed out most of Tuesday’s play, there was a bumper schedule at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as officials raced to get back on track and the 40th-ranked Makarova brought the curtain down with 6-2 6-7(5) 6-1 win.
The Dane, who has won more matches than any player on the WTA Tour this season, was quickly in trouble and dropped a one-sided opening set.
Makarova moved ahead in the second, breaking her opponent at the first opportunity, but the Russian was unable to close out the contest as a resilient Wozniacki forced a tie-break, which she won 7-5 to set up a decider.
The reprieve was short-lived, however, as Makarova swept through the first five games of the third set to set up a victory.
Elsewhere, Canadian Denis Shapovalov appeared older than his 18 years at the US Open on Wednesday, staying poised to beat eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-4 7-6(3) and advancing to the third round.
Shapovalov, who had to qualify for the main draw, rose his hands in triumph after the television review showed that Tsonga’s final shot had sailed past the baseline.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” he said during an on court interview. “I’ve always dreamed of playing a night match on Arthur Ashe.”
Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova extended her grand slam comeback when the former world number one defeated Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1 to advance to the US Open third round.
The Russian did not have the same inspiration that helped her beat world number two Simona Halep in the opening round.
Sharapova, who was granted a wildcard entry to the tournament, made too many unforced errors in a scrappy first set that featured six breaks of serve.
Once she found her groove midway through the second set, however, the 30-year-old, sporting a pale peach pink crystal-encrusted dress, eventually shone like a diamond, tossing Babos aside in a one-sided decider.
Although the two wins have boosted her confidence, she was not complacent as she prepares for her next match against American Sofia Kenin.
“I certainly have expectations just because I know I’ve been in these stages before and I’ve been able to execute,” she said.
“There’s a certain level of I know I can do this, I’ve done it before. I want to have that feeling again.
“But there’s also the realistic understanding of ‘okay, you haven’t been in this situation for a while. It’s going to take a little time’.”
Playing basketball, eating ice creams and drinking milk shakes during tennis tournaments.
Nick Kyrgios admitted he had not been dedicated in his roller coaster of a career after being dumped out of the US Open in the first round.
The mercurial 22-year-old, one of the most gifted players on the tour, lost 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-1 against fellow Australian John Millman after hurting his right shoulder.
The 14th seed had treatment at the beginning of the third set after levelling at 1-1, but Kyrgios gradually appeared to lose interest in the match.
The 22-year-old received a warning for allegedly cursing and broke his racket as he produced a string of unforced errors at Louis Armstrong Stadium in front of his coach, Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.
“I’m not good enough for him. You know, he’s very dedicated. He’s an unbelievable coach,” Kyrgios told a news conference that turned into a self-battering session.
“He probably deserves a player that is probably more dedicated to the game than I am. He deserves a better athlete than me.”
Although he said he was focused on the US Open, Kyrgios said he had not always been dedicated, citing his behaviour at the Cincinnati Open, where he reached the final.
“I was probably less dedicated than I was this week. I was playing basketball at Lifetime Fitness every day for two hours. Like I played an hour of basketball before I played David Ferrer in the semi-final,” he said.
“I was going to (eat) ice cream, like this Graeter’s place getting a milk shake every day. I was less dedicated.”
Kyrgios added he did not know if he would continue with Grosjean, explaining he was not a player who could be trusted. “I keep letting people down,” he said. “I’m not dedicated to the game at all. There are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, the one-percenters. I’m not that guy.”
Eugenie Bouchard was back on centre court at the US Open, the United States Tennis Association saying it held no grudges against the Canadian who is suing the organisation for negligence over injuries suffered in a locker-room fall.
Usually the marquee matchups of the day are reserved for Arthur Ashe Stadium and a contest between two players barely ranked inside the top 100 seemed an unconventional choice – even more so given the lawsuit now before the courts.
“I was surprised,” admitted the 76th-ranked Bouchard following a 7-6(2) 6-1 thrashing by 89th-ranked Russian Evgeniya Rodina. “But it’s always an amazing opportunity to play on the biggest tennis court in the world.”