Svitolina ousts Halep to reach US Open quarters
Zverev reaches fourth round after Sock retires with thigh injury
Ukraine’s fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina defeated two-time major winner Simona Halep at the US Open yesterday, advancing to her eighth Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Svitolina, coming off a WTA title in Chicago, stretched her win streak to nine matches by dispatching the Romanian 12th seed 6-3, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Definitely was a great match,” Svitolina said. “I was really excited. I know how big a fighter is Simona. I had to bring my best game. For sure I’m happy with the win.”
Svitolina, who hasn’t dropped a set this week, made her deepest Slam runs to the 2019 US Open and Wimbledon semi-finals.
Svitolina will next play either German 16th seed Angelique Kerber, whose three Grand Slam titles include the 2016 US Open, or 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who ousted 2020 champion Naomi Osaka.
Early exit
Seven of the top nine women’s seeds reached the last 16 with Osaka and top-ranked Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty exiting early.
After an exchange of early breaks, Svitolina broke on an errant backhand in the eighth game and held to claim the opening set after 34 minutes.
Former world No 1 Halep, the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion, netted a backhand to give Svitolina a break for a 2-1 edge but broke back in the next game with a backhand cross-court winner.
Svitolina, a week shy of her 27th birthday, broke to lead 4-3 when Halep netted a backhand, held to 5-3 and broke again for the victory after 76 minutes when Halep netted a backhand.
“Definitely I have goosebumps right now,” Svitolina said.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev advanced to the fourth round on Saturday, when Jack Sock retired with a thigh injury trailing 3-6 6-2 6-3 2-1.
Zverev had looked to be headed for a long night against the big-hitting Sock, who convincingly won the opening set, but instead outlasted the American who refused to wave the white flag until broken in the fourth knowing there was not way back.
“I would have been planning my holiday in the South of France if Jack continued the way he played in the opening set,” said Zverev.
“It’s difficult to sometimes play someone who was not at 100 per cent.
“I think everybody saw that Jack was really struggling physically and ... you have to keep your focus.”