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U.S. Open Day 9

Serena Blanks Suarez-Navarro, Enter Semis vs Li Na; Azarenka Battles Past Ivanovic to Reach Quarters

World No.2 Azarenka into Quarters. Photo usopen.org

September 3, 2013 ITS Staff: New York - World No. 1 Serena Williams put on a display of fire-power making another statement that she’s the player to beat after demolishing Spain’s No.18 seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-0 on Tuesday to advance to the semi-finals against China’s Li Na.

 

The 31-year old Li defeated 24th-seeded Ekaterina Makarova by a score of 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 in an earlier match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

 

The 16-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who is bidding to win her fifth Flushing Meadow title, hit 20 winners, and won 88 percent of her first serves including four aces. According to the U.S. Open record books, the last time a quarter-final match was decided by a double bagel was in 1989 when Martina Navratilova blanked Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria.

 

World No.2 Victoria Azarenka rallied past Ana Ivanovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open Championships on Tuesday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

 

After dropping the first set to Ivanovic who came out firing, the reigning two-time Australian Open champion clawed her way back steadily into match winning the second set mostly on the Serbian’s unforced errors. In the final set, the Belarusian stormed to a 3-1 lead before Ivanovic leveled back at 3-all. Azarenka, the last year’s finalist, held serve then broke to serve for the match at 5-3 but squandered two match points before Ivanovic closed the gap 5-4.

 

Ivanonic appeared on her way to hold serve with a 30-0 advantage before Azarenka ripped a cross-court return winner on the next point then subsequently got to her third match point. Ivanovic saved one but on the fourth match point, the former World No.1 hit into net to give the match to Azarenka after two-hours and 10 minutes.

 

In a court-side interview with former U.S. top tenner Brad Glibert of ESPN, Azarenka described her match, “Ana just came out firing and played amazing tennis in the first set. I really had to wake up in the second set and fight for the points.  I was really more determined, more focused. The match points were pretty bad.  I really didn’t go for my shots.  I kept waiting for mistakes, but they never came.”

 

Under tough conditions, Ivanovic hit 41 winners but also absorbed 42 unforced errors compared with her steadier opponent who only hit 21 winners but had less unforced errors at 30. Azarenka’s next opponent is unseeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova who defeated American wildcard Alison Riske on Monday.

Youzhny Halts Former Champion Hewitt Run in 5-set Epic Thriller

Mikhail Youzhny. Photo usopen.org

usopen.org: September 03 2013 by Clair Maciel - Holding a 4-1 lead over No. 21 Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth set, Lleyton Hewitt was two games away from securing a spot in the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in seven years. But when the tenacious Russian found his second wind and reeled off five straight games to force a deciding fifth set, Hewitt suddenly found himself fighting off a re-energized Youzhny.

 

Twice in the final two sets, Youzhny came back from the brink of defeat to quash Hewitt’s lead. When all was said and done, the Russian’s gritty baseline game earned him a 6-3, 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 win over the 2001 US Open champion and secured his spot in the quarterfinals. Both men had proved to be dangerous in their quarter of the draw thus far, with two-time US Open semifinalist Youzhny knocking out an in-form Tommy Haas, and Hewitt taking down the No. 6 seed Juan Martin del Potro in the second round.

 

"There was a lot of momentum changes, right from the start," Hewitt said of the match. "He had a lot of different swings out there where we both played better at certain stages for three or four games. You know, it was hard for both of us to hold our serves at times as well out there. In the end, he played the big games when he needed to. He didn't give me too many cheap errors. It's obviously disappointing to lose, but, you know, I left it all out there. There's not a whole heap more I could have done." Full article

Men’s Singles Fourth Round Tuesday September 3

3-Andy Murray beat Denis Istomin 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

21-Mikhail Youzhny beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 7-5

1-Novak Djokovic beat Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0, 6-0

9-Stanislas Wawrinka beat 5-Tomas Berdych 6-3, 1-6, 6-7 (6-8), 2-6

 

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals Tuesday September 3

Serena Williams (1) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro (18) 6-0, 6-0

Na Li (5) vs. Ekaterina Makarova (24) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2

 

Women’s Singles  Fourth Round Tuesday September 3

Victoria Azarenka (2) vs. Ana Ivanovic (13) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

U.S. Open Daily Update

Day 14: Serena Defeats Azarenka in 3 Sets for 17th Grand Slam Title

Day 13: Djokovic Outlasts Wawrinka in 5-sets, Faces Nadal in Final

Day 12: Serena, Azarenka Sets Rematch Showdown in Final

Day 11: Wawrinka Stuns Murray, Sets SF Showdown w. Djokovic

Day 10: Gasquet Upsets Ferrer, Faces Streaking Nadal in Semis

Day 10: Huey, Inglot Denied Final Four Spot by Melo, Dodig

Day 9: Azarenka Edges Ivanovic, Enter Quarter-finals

Day 8: Robredo Shocks Federer in First Win After 11 Tries

Day 8: Huey, Inglot Enter QF; Bryans Closer to Grand Slam

Day 7: Serena Stops Stephens; Noles, Murray into 4th rd

Day 6: Nadal, Federer, Ferrer Roll On; Kohlschreiber Denies Isner Anew; Halep Crushes Kirilenko

Day 5: Hewitt Upsets Del Potro; Djokovic, Murray into 3rd Round
Day 4: Nadal, Federer on Course to Showdown; Ferrer Move to 3rd rd; Serena Rolls; Errani Upset by Penneta;

Day 3: Murray Cruises in Title Defense Opener; Del Potro Battles Past Lopez; Radswanka, Li Na reach 3rd rd; Venus Ousted by Zheng

Day 2: Federer, Berdych Ease to Second Round; Errani, Kvitova, Ivanovic Advance; Stosur Shocked by 17-year old;

Day 1: Nadal Breezes, Nishikori Stunned in Opener; Radswanka, Li Na Cruise; Venus Ousts No.12 Flipkens;

Last American Standing: U.S. Men's Players Ousted First Week 

Open News Bits: Tomic Conquers Self, Ramos; Reister Posts Golden Set; France sends 14 players to main draw

Lisicki and co. looking to do great things in NY: Porsche Team 

Shop and save up to 40% on shoes in the adidas sale section

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