TENNIS US OPEN – Our Giulio Gasparin has selected the best quotes from Day 8 of US Open at Flushing Meadows: Peng, Bencic, Wozniacki, Errani, Federer and Monfils.
Peng Shuai defeated in great fashion the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open since Martina Hingis, Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-1.
The Swiss player struggled to find her game, but she did not hide behind any excuse.
“For sure it’s been a great tournament for me,” she said. “I think today I really didn’t play my best, but I can take definitely so much positive out of this tournament.
“I will work very hard so that I can be in a lot more quarterfinals.”
When she was told that her projected ranking is just out of the top 30, she said: “it’s incredible.
“I mean, yeah, it’s my fourth Grand Slam. Yeah, next year maybe seeded in Australia, it’s unbelievable. Next year I don’t have to play any more quallies. I’m so happy!”
The Chinese player was over the moon after reaching her first ever slam semi-final.
“I dream about it,” she said. “Because everybody was like ask me all week, maybe you have a chance to get quarters, so I was really happy first time quarters.
“And I went to the semis. Of course is exciting, is surprise, but is not like I feel like I cannot.”
Her opponent in the semi will be Caroline Woziniacki who defeated in a majestic match Sara Errani 6-0 6-1.
The Dane looked as good as in the match against Maria Sharapova and did not let any chance to the Italian.
“I had a game plan in mind, and I just went for my shots,” she said. “I knew that I had to be aggressive but not too aggressive, kind of find a balance between finding the opening, and then go for my shots whenever I had the balls for it.
“You know, you kind of want to get a good start. Love-40 isn’t really a good start, but it was really windy and it just took me a few serves to kind of get into the rhythm and figure out, you know, where to throw the ball and what to aim for.
After falling from grace, Wozniacki looked quite confused on where her game should be going, but this summer things started to work better again.
“You kind of have to keep playing better,” she said. “You know, it will always go up and down in sports. Doesn’t matter what sport you play. I’m just happy I’m on my way up again and I’m playing well.”
Errani also had good words for her.
“She’s very good,” she said. “She doesn’t miss a ball. Every point long points, make me feel worse physically.
“So was important thing. I tried to change my game in the second to be much more aggressive. Tried to go more on the net, because on the baseline was she was making me died.
“I tried to be aggressive on the net. I was trying, but is difficult.”
Roger Federer advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating in straight sets Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-3 6-2.
Despite the strong wind, it was a very easy win for the second seed, who sounded very optimistic after the match.
“I had maybe some margin,” he said. “I don’t know if that was something I was trying to tell myself.
“He hasn’t got the biggest game, but he’s consistent. He’s fast. He can adapt.
“So he’s got things that can make you feel uncomfortable, I must say. He can absorb pace well. From that standpoint, even though I did feel I had margin, because I never played him before, I was still pushing forward all along and trying to always keep a gap between him and me in terms of the result and the scoreline.”
His next opponent will be Gael Monfils, who took down Grigor Dimitrov 7-5 7-6 7-5.
The Frenchman looked very sharp and focused and his great defence in the end prevailed.
“I think I played good,” he said. “I’m in better position today. It’s easy to say, but, you know, I think every time I’m the same.
“I think I always play good, always played solid. You know, sometime just didn’t happen, you know.
“I remember here played a good fourth round against Rafa, but he just was better than me. You know, I always have tough battle here or at the French.
“For me, I’m just happy because today I was a bit lucky. It’s one point, it’s two points, and today I think I was able to have more luck than him.”