Sharapova’s wild ride continues
Whether other U.S. Open competitors like Eugenie Bouchard like it or not – and whether Caroline Wozniacki deems it questionable – Maria Sharapova looked like a woman who belonged in the spotlight, demanding attention with each scream during her Friday night victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Earning plenty of cheers from the crowd even against an underdog American, Sharapova held off fearless 18-year-old Sofia Kenin, a fellow wild card, to win 7-5, 6-2, at Flushing Meadows.
“She came out and had nothing to lose today and that’s always dangerous,” Sharapova said of Kenin. “I’m really glad that I got through.”
The one-time champion will face Latvian No. 16 Anastasija Sevastova in the fourth round as
Karolina Pliskova (1), Czech Republic, vs. Zhang Shuai (27), China
Agnieszka Radwanska (10), Poland, vs. CoCo Vandeweghe (20), U.S.
Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, vs. Leonardo Mayer, Argentina
(Night Session (Play begins at 7 p.m.)
Roger Federer (3), Switzerland, vs. Feliciano Lopez (31), Spain
Elena Vesnina (17), Russia, vs. Madison Keys (15), United States Adrian Mannarino (30), France, vs. Dominic Thiem (6), Austria Sharapova fights for her sixth Grand Slam title.
The Russian got off to a hot start, going up 2-0 in the first set, before the young American let the 30-year-old know this victory wouldn’t come easily. Kenin, who has idolized her opponent, roared back with Sharapova admitting after the match that she didn’t see the ball well early on.
History appeared to be repeating itself in the second set, with Kenin winning back-to-back games to pull within 3-2. But Sharapova – despite her 33 unforced errors to Kenin’s 16 – never looked back, and during match point lightly lobbed a shot over the corner of the net, which Kenin hit out of bounds on a backhand.
Sharapova was able to set herself apart during longer rallies, winning 12 of the 15 that went nine shots or more. One second-set rally even earned her a standing ovation and an emphatic roar from the crowd, after both women had given their all
Jelena Ostapenko (12), Latvia, vs. Daria Kasatkina, Russia
David Goffin (9), Belgium, vs. Gael Monfils (18), France
Viktor Troicki, Serbia, vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov, Ukraine
Roberto Bautista-Agut (11), Spain, vs. Juan Martin del Potro (24), Argentina
Elina Svitolina (4), Ukraine, vs. Shelby Rogers, United States Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, vs. John Millman, Australia (Not Before 12:30 p.m. ) Jennifer Brady, United States, vs. Monica Niculescu, Romania bolting up and down the court. “I feel like I had to win that point four times,” she said.
The veteran, who last won the U.S. Open in 2006, had eight aces but seven double faults; Kenin had only one ace and committed six double faults.
Sharapova had already ousted No. 2 seed Simona Halep on Monday and Timea Babos on Wednesday, all on Ashe, when Wozniacki slammed the USTA for allowing someone slapped with a 15-month drug ban to return to her first major tournament at center court. “It doesn’t set a good example,” Wozniacki said. Bouchard previously criticized the USTA for even allowing Sharapova, who was suspended for using meldonium, to gain entry with a No. 146 world ranking.
But Wozniacki is gone. Bouchard is gone. And Sharapova is still standing. GETTY