Post by Admin on Sept 8, 2020 6:13:48 GMT
The number of American women into the quarterfinals of the US Open is down to three after No. 2 Sofia Kenin was upset Monday night, hours after Serena Williams advanced in her quest for her 24th major title.
No. 16 Elise Mertens knocked off Kenin to earn a berth in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the second year in a row.
Kenin won the Australian Open and was trying to become the first back-to-back Grand Slam winner since Naomi Osaka won the US Open and the Australian in 2018-19.
Kenin had 26 unforced errors to only seven for Mertens.
Mertens will face Victoria Azarenka, who orchestrated an upset of her own on Monday, beating No. 20 Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. This will be her first quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2015.
Earlier Monday, with her breathing loud enough to hear in an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium and her third-set deficit a point from growing to 3-1 against someone who beat her less than two weeks earlier, Williams scrambled to extend a 13-stroke exchange until her opponent netted a forehand.
"Keep fighting!" Williams exhorted herself.
Locked in a tough fourth-round match Monday, without the benefit of a pro-American audience, Williams provided her own encouragement along the way to come back and beat 15th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 and reach the quarterfinals in a 12th consecutive appearance at Flushing Meadows.
"I feel like I'm pretty vocal with or without a crowd. ... I'm super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do, 365 days of the year," said Williams, who moved a step closer to a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title.
No. 16 Elise Mertens knocked off Kenin to earn a berth in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the second year in a row.
Kenin won the Australian Open and was trying to become the first back-to-back Grand Slam winner since Naomi Osaka won the US Open and the Australian in 2018-19.
Kenin had 26 unforced errors to only seven for Mertens.
Mertens will face Victoria Azarenka, who orchestrated an upset of her own on Monday, beating No. 20 Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. This will be her first quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2015.
Earlier Monday, with her breathing loud enough to hear in an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium and her third-set deficit a point from growing to 3-1 against someone who beat her less than two weeks earlier, Williams scrambled to extend a 13-stroke exchange until her opponent netted a forehand.
"Keep fighting!" Williams exhorted herself.
Locked in a tough fourth-round match Monday, without the benefit of a pro-American audience, Williams provided her own encouragement along the way to come back and beat 15th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 and reach the quarterfinals in a 12th consecutive appearance at Flushing Meadows.
"I feel like I'm pretty vocal with or without a crowd. ... I'm super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do, 365 days of the year," said Williams, who moved a step closer to a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title.