Sharapova exits, Murray wins
Source: Agencies |
September 4, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MARIA Sharapova was knocked out of the US Open on Friday in a shock third-round loss to Flavia Pennetta, while Andy Murray was lucky to survive after being pushed to five sets by Robin Haase in New York.
Sharapova was beaten 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 in the biggest upset of the tournament at Flushing Meadows so far before Murray clawed his way back to defeat Dutchman Haase 6-7 (5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 in the second round and avoid another early exit at the last grand slam of the year.
"You're relieved to get through a long one like that, especially when you're behind," fourth seed Murray told reporters.
"I'm just glad I'm in the next round and get a chance to improve and play better and give myself a chance," added the Briton, who next plays Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal strolled through to the third round when his opponent, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, retired in the first game of the third set complaining of a stomach muscle strain with the Spaniard well in control, leading 6-2, 6-2.
Sharapova, who won the US Open in 2006 but has not won a grand slam title since the 2008 Australian Open, became the biggest casualty of a tournament that has mostly gone according to the script.
The Russian third seed was one of the favorites to win the crown after winning a lead-up event in Cincinnati but made a whopping 60 unforced errors and served 12 double faults, including two in the final game.
"It's disappointing to lose in New York. Losing isn't fun for anyone because we work to win," she said. "We don't work to try to lose. So when we're faced with a position where we can win and we didn't in the end, it's tough."
For Pennetta, a quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2008 and 2009 who is seeded 26th, it was a moment to savor as she celebrated her victory on a baking hot day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I think this one is one of the best victories in my career, and is gonna be like this forever," the Italian said.
Pennetta's next opponent is China's Peng Shuai, the 13th seed, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (1) win over Julia Goerges of Germany in an increasingly wide open women's draw.
None of the remaining players in the bottom half of the draw have won a grand slam title and the only two to have played in a final are last year's runner-up, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, and Australia's Sam Stosur.
Zvonareva, seeded second, beat Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 7-5 on Friday while ninth seed Stosur, a finalist at the French Open last year, outfought Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Former champion Juan Martin Del Potro sailed through with a 6-2, 6-1 ,7-5 win over his fellow Argentine Diego Junqueira.
American Andy Roddick, the 2003 winner, silenced talk about a passing of the torch by dismissing 18-year-old compatriot Jack Sock 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, while big-serving John Isner won his all-American match against Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
Sharapova was beaten 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 in the biggest upset of the tournament at Flushing Meadows so far before Murray clawed his way back to defeat Dutchman Haase 6-7 (5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 in the second round and avoid another early exit at the last grand slam of the year.
"You're relieved to get through a long one like that, especially when you're behind," fourth seed Murray told reporters.
"I'm just glad I'm in the next round and get a chance to improve and play better and give myself a chance," added the Briton, who next plays Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal strolled through to the third round when his opponent, Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, retired in the first game of the third set complaining of a stomach muscle strain with the Spaniard well in control, leading 6-2, 6-2.
Sharapova, who won the US Open in 2006 but has not won a grand slam title since the 2008 Australian Open, became the biggest casualty of a tournament that has mostly gone according to the script.
The Russian third seed was one of the favorites to win the crown after winning a lead-up event in Cincinnati but made a whopping 60 unforced errors and served 12 double faults, including two in the final game.
"It's disappointing to lose in New York. Losing isn't fun for anyone because we work to win," she said. "We don't work to try to lose. So when we're faced with a position where we can win and we didn't in the end, it's tough."
For Pennetta, a quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2008 and 2009 who is seeded 26th, it was a moment to savor as she celebrated her victory on a baking hot day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I think this one is one of the best victories in my career, and is gonna be like this forever," the Italian said.
Pennetta's next opponent is China's Peng Shuai, the 13th seed, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (1) win over Julia Goerges of Germany in an increasingly wide open women's draw.
None of the remaining players in the bottom half of the draw have won a grand slam title and the only two to have played in a final are last year's runner-up, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, and Australia's Sam Stosur.
Zvonareva, seeded second, beat Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 7-5 on Friday while ninth seed Stosur, a finalist at the French Open last year, outfought Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Former champion Juan Martin Del Potro sailed through with a 6-2, 6-1 ,7-5 win over his fellow Argentine Diego Junqueira.
American Andy Roddick, the 2003 winner, silenced talk about a passing of the torch by dismissing 18-year-old compatriot Jack Sock 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, while big-serving John Isner won his all-American match against Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
