16th seed Anastasija Sevastova upsets 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the US Open quarterfinal for the second year in succession inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Latvian will face Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, and the 27-year-old will be hoping to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Sevastova is no stranger to the Arthur Ashe Stadium as she upset Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and Johanna Konta in the second round and fourth respectively to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. The Latvian was unable to replicate her performance in the quarterfinal as she suffered a foot injury, after falling over in her match with Caroline Wozniacki.
The former world number one began proceedings inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium with the roof now opened as it was closed for the men’s fourth round clash between Denis Shapovalov and 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta. Sharapova was taken to deuce but she held onto her serve, and Sevastova responded with a hold to love, leveling proceedings at 1-1.
The five-time Grand Slam champion was bidding to reach just her fourth quarterfinal in Flushing Meadows and first since 2012, and she was increasingly likely to do it, as she held to love in her next game and broke Sevastova’s serve to lead 3-1.
There was a chance for last year’s quarterfinalist to get the immediate break back but the unseeded Russian fended it off, and she eventually clinched the game with her big serve going down the middle, coupled with a forehand winner down the line to lead 4-1.
However, the Latvian remained a thorn in Sharapova’s side as she continued to mix up the play by playing slices and forcing to bring Sharapova to the net, which she was very uncomfortable at. Despite leading 40-15 on serve, the 16th seed broke back as the Russian’s wild volley sailed out of the tramlines to get the match back on serve at 4-3.
Both players remained untroubled on serve but the scoreboard pressure was firmly back on Sevastova’s shoulders as Sharapova had a 6-5 lead. It was too much for the Latvian to handle as the five-time Grand Slam champion amped up the pressure in the returning game, and she clinched the opening set with a forehand crosscourt return winner down the line, 7-5 in 51 minutes.
Sevastova fights back to clinch the second set
The former world number one was in her stride as she held onto her serve in the opening game of the second set with ease, and she had the chance to break Sevastova’s serve, however, the Russian netted a backhand in the net, and Sevastova got onto the scoreboard, by playing a delightful disguised drop shot winner to level the second set at 1-1.
Moreover, the pendulum was swinging as the 16th seed broke Sharapova’s serve, and a ray of errors from the 2006 US Open champion’s serve and she consolidated the break to love to lead 3-1. Sevastova was having joy in this fourth round clash as she was causing more problems for Sharapova with slices and drop shots.

Sevastova was too good for Sharapova in the final set (Photo by Clive Brunskill / Getty)
Furthermore, the Latvian fended off two more break points and she stretched out her lead to 5-3, which surprised the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, who were supporting the former champion. The Russian forced Sevastova to serve out the first set, as she held onto her serve to love. The 16th seed, who is currently ranked at 17 in the world, one of her career-high ranking served out for the second set with a big serve down the middle, clinching it 6-4 in 46 minutes.
The Latvian sends Sharapova out of the US Open
At the conclusion of the second set, Sharapova took a bathroom break in order to change her clothes but it did not spoil Sevastova’s momentum as the Latvian immediately broke the Russian’s serve, with Sharapova committing two double faults. Last year’s quarterfinalist was running away with the final set as she held to love, and she won her fourth successive game by breaking the 2006 champion’s serve to love, leading 3-0.
At the first sit down of the final set, Sharapova received a medical timeout on her fingers as she had a blister, which may have hampered her performance in the early goings of the decisive final set. However, the 16th seed was unable to consolidate the double break as nerves were kicking in as Sharapova retrieved one of the breaks back by virtue of an untimely double fault.

Sharapova was bothered by blisters on her fingers (Photo by Richard Heathcote / Getty)
The 2006 champion was building some momentum as she quickly followed that break with a hold to love, and quickly received some more treatment on her fingers. Furthermore, that did not bother Sevastova as Sharapova continued to commit uncharacteristic unforced despite bossing the rallies in some points.
There was not going to be a second US Open title in Sharapova’s trophy cabinet as the Latvian broke the Russian’s serve to lead 5-2, and despite saving three match points, the former world number one’s quest for a sixth Grand Slam title ended as Sevastova served big out wide, followed by a crosscourt backhand winner, out of reach, clinching victory, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes to reach a second consecutive quarterfinal at the US Open.

Sevastova’s best moments have come at the US Open and she enjoys playing in the biggest tennis arena in the world. “Playing on Ashe, it’s an amazing atmosphere every time I’m here. It makes it fun to play here.” The Latvian spoke about coming back from a set down. “The first set was very close. It could have gone either way. I think she played unbelievable throughout the first and second set. I just keep fighting, I was running at every ball.”
The 16th seed will face the USA’s Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals, and it the American’s third Grand Slam quarterfinals appearance. “She has had a great summer. She is playing so well on the hard courts in America. So I hope it is going to be on Ashe and I hope that we are going to put a show on.”