Second seed Sofia Kenin of the USA was despatched crashing out of the US Open on Monday, crushed in straight units by Elise Mertens of Belgium. Kenin, the best seeded participant left within the match and winner of the 2020 Australian Open, was bundled out of the final 16 6-Three, 6-Three, in 1hr 14 minutes by Mertens. Mertens, the 16th seed, will now play Victoria Azarenka of Belarus within the quarter-finals. Kenin, who had not misplaced a recreation in her first three rounds, by no means bought her service recreation collectively in opposition to Mertens.
The 21-year-old Moscow-born participant gained solely 56 per cent of first serve factors in comparison with 75 per cent for Mertens.
Kenin additionally hit three double faults, whereas Mertens hit none.
Mertens, ranked 18th on this planet, smashed eight aces, whereas Kenin did not muster any.
Unseeded Azarenka got here from a set all the way down to oust 20th seed Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-Four in 2hr 30min.
Serena battles into quarters
Serena Williams needed to summon up each final ounce of energy to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three hard-fought units.
The 38-year-old American wanted virtually two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent 6-Three, 6-7 (6/eight), 6-Three inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
“She’s such a superb competitor. It was a extremely intense match,” stated Williams, who had been dumped out of a US Open tuneup match by the identical opponent final month.
“I felt like she virtually performed higher at this time. I used to be somewhat fatigued final time and had some cramps. Simply felt like I used to be in a position to compete longer,” Williams added.
There was little separating the gamers all through the energy-sapping contest, with Williams notching 107 whole factors to Sakkari’s 99.
Williams gained 72 p.c of factors off her first serve whereas Sakkari gained 73 p.c. Sakkari additionally outdid Williams on aces, by 13 to 12.
Promoted
Williams rallied from two video games down within the deciding set, pumping herself up with loud screams that echoed across the spectator-free area as she broke Sakkari twice to clinch the last-eight spot.
The American will play Tsvetana Pironkova for a spot within the semi-finals after the Bulgarian ousted France’s Alize Cornet in one other draining three-setter.
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