Safina and Sharapova leave US Open
Published: 06 September, 2009, 10:11
Number one seeded Dinara Safina of Russia reacts to a point during her match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic (AFP Photo / Don Emmert)
Top seed Dinara Safina will be leaving a major without a Grand Slam once again, while some of her compatriots fared much better and progressed to the fourth round.
World No. 1 Safina was unable to hold off Czech teenager Petra Kvitova, going down in three sets, 4-6 6-2 6-7.
Nadia Petrova was on form, though, breezing to a straight sets win over China's Zheng Jie of China, 6-4, 6-1.
US Open 2004 Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova also remains in the run for her second crown after taking out Shahar Peer, 7-5, 6-1.
However, local favorite Melanie Oudin continues to make a name for herself, disposing of Maria Sharapova to advance to the fourth round. The 17-year-old American had already defeated Russians Anastasia Pavluchenkova and Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva in the previous rounds.
Sharapova, seemingly still in difficulty with a long standing shoulder injury, was unable to find any answers against the teenager, with 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 the final score.
“Just couldn't decelerate today. I was hitting second serves no less than 95 miles per hour. I even tried to hit it less, and I just couldn't. It's frustrating, because you work so hard to get to a certain point. You always want to get better. I feel like I've had a good enough summer. I probably could have definitely performed better. But it's just not the way things go sometimes,” Maria Sharapova said to the tournament’s official website.
Nadia Petrova now awaits the American youngster in the next round.
02.09.2009, 08:23
Safina, Sharapova, Kuznetsova march in step at US OpenWomen's World No. 1 Dinara Safina has survived a first round scare at the US Open to stay in the race for her maiden Grand Slam title. |
07.09.2009, 10:33
Zvonareva fails to reach U.S. open quarterfinalsIt has been a disappointing end to the weekend for Vera Zvonareva. She was the only Russian in action on Sunday at the U.S. Open, but was unable to reach the quarterfinals. |
