Madison Keys overcame Naomi Osaka 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-3) to reach the fourth round at the US Open after a dramatic match.
Osaka got an early break early in the opening set but Keys broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. The first set went on serve until the 12th game when Keys got the break to win the first set 7-5. Keys went down 0-40 on her serve to face three break points in the ninth game but was able to save them to draw level. However, Osaka converted her break point chance to win the second set 6-4.
Osaka was leading 5-1 in the third set but Keys fought back by winning five consective games with two consecutive breaks in the eighth and tenth games to draw level to 5-5- Keys won the tie-break 7-3 to set up a fourth round match against Caroline Wozniacki who cruised through Monica Niculescu 6-3 6-1 on the Arthur Ashe Court.
Wozniacki reached the fourth round at the US Open for the sixth time in her career. Wozniacki dropped her serve in the first game but broke back in the next game. The Danish player broke again in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead before saving four break back ponts en route to winning the first set 6-3. Wozniacki went up a double break to take a 3-0 lead. Niculescu got one of the two breaks back in the fourth game but Wozniacki broke twice more in the fifth and seventh games to qualify for the fourth round in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since Wimbledon in 2015.
“It’s fun but it’s also frustrating, because you feel like you can’t play tennis. You have just to grind out there. It’s not pretty but I got a good workout out there, so I don’t need to go for a run this afternoon”, said Wozniacki.
Petra Kvitova broke three times in the first set and twice in the second to beat Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-4. The Czech player, who won the Olympic singles bronze medal, raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set with a double break but Svitolina got both breaks back to win four games in a row for 4-4. Kvitova held her service game to love for 5-4. Svitolina fended off one match point while serving at 4-5 30-40 but Kvitova converted her second chance to wrap up the second set 6-4.
Kvitova has achieved her best Grand Slam result so far this year by reahing the fourth round. Svitolina achieved her best win of her career when she beat Serena Williams at the Rio Olympics.
“It was a dream. I think she really came back stronger. I think she probably feels she does not have anything to lose. I lost my timing and my aggressive plan and I am glad I found it in the last two games”, said Kvitova.
Johanna Konta dismissed Belind Bencic 6-2 6-1 to qualify for the fourth round at the US Open for the second consecutive year. Konta broke serve five times and did not face a break point. The British player won 19 of her 20 points on her first serve and hit 19 winners.
Konta will take on Anastasija Sevastova, who upset Garbine Muguruza in the second round before beating Kateryna Bondarenko 6-4 6-1. The British player could face either Madison Keys or Caroline Wozniacki for a spot in the semifinals.
Last year’s US Open finalist Roberta Vinci overcame Carina Witthoeft 6-0 5-7 6-0. Vinci broke three time to win the first set with a bagel. The Italian was broken back in the second game but got another break in the fifth game for 3-2 and served for the second set at 5-3. Witthoeft broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5 before getting another break in the 12th game to win the second set 7-5. Vinci broke twice in the first and ninth games to win the third set 6-3.
Vinci will face Lesla Tsurenko who fought back from one set down to beat Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach her best ever result in a Grand Slam tournament. Cibulkova has not qualified for the third round at the US Open since reaching the quarter final at the US Open in 2010. Cibulkova raced out to a 4-0 lead before closing out the first set with a break in the ninth game. Tsurenko brounced back breaking in all five Cibulkova’s service games. As Cibulkova was serving at 3-6 30-40, Tsurenko hit a backhand cross court winner to break serve for 6-3.
Cibulkova failed to convert on four game points as she was serving at 1-2 before dropping her serve. Tsurenko held to love to open up a 4-1 lead. Cibulkova fended off three break points as she serving at 3-4 but Tsurenko converted her fourth chance. Tsurenko got her ninth break of the match in the 10th game to close out the match.
