Sharapova reaches US Open third round, American men in new low
30 Aug 2014 4:59 AM IST
Sharapova, who lifted her fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open this year, fought back from a set down to beat 95th-ranked Romanian Dulgheru 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The fifth-seeded Russian was reluctant to blame the windy conditions in the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court for her difficulties, which included 46 unforced errors.
And after two hours and 26 minutes on court -- in a match that began in hot sunshine and ended
under the floodlights, she had her 17th three-set win of the season, the most on the WTA tour.
‘It was difficult. Obviously the conditions were tough. You start in the sun, you finish under the lights.Overall I felt like in the end I was in much better shape than she was and I could have played another few sets. Mentally that helped me a lot,’ Sharapova said. Sharapova was one of the day's headliners, along with Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka and five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams on a day that saw two-time defending women's champion Serena Williams along with top men Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all having a day off.
Wawrinka, the third seed from Switzerland, faced Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci in one of two men's second-round matches on the slate. If US fans were looking for home-grown heroes to cheer among the men, they were in for a disappointment. The first-round exits of Steve Johnson and Ryan Harrison yesterday meant just three American men reached the second round, the fewest in US Open history. John Isner, the 13th-seeded US number one, Sam Querrey and wildcard Tim Smyczek all booked their second-round berths on Tuesday.
Wins for leander Paes, Sania mirza
Defending champions Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek had to work hard to cross the first round hurdle in men’s doubles even as Sania Mirza moved to second rounds of her two events at the US Open.
The sixth seeded pair of Paes and Stepanek overcame a spirited challenge from Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 7-6(5), 6-2 in their campaign opener. They next face unseeded combine of Yen-Hsun Lu from Taipei and Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic.
In mixed doubles, top seeds Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares quelled the challenge of Tornado Alicia Black and Ernesto of US Escobedo 6-2 3-6 10-5 in a gruelling first round contest.
And after two hours and 26 minutes on court -- in a match that began in hot sunshine and ended
under the floodlights, she had her 17th three-set win of the season, the most on the WTA tour.
‘It was difficult. Obviously the conditions were tough. You start in the sun, you finish under the lights.Overall I felt like in the end I was in much better shape than she was and I could have played another few sets. Mentally that helped me a lot,’ Sharapova said. Sharapova was one of the day's headliners, along with Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka and five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams on a day that saw two-time defending women's champion Serena Williams along with top men Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all having a day off.
Wawrinka, the third seed from Switzerland, faced Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci in one of two men's second-round matches on the slate. If US fans were looking for home-grown heroes to cheer among the men, they were in for a disappointment. The first-round exits of Steve Johnson and Ryan Harrison yesterday meant just three American men reached the second round, the fewest in US Open history. John Isner, the 13th-seeded US number one, Sam Querrey and wildcard Tim Smyczek all booked their second-round berths on Tuesday.
Wins for leander Paes, Sania mirza
Defending champions Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek had to work hard to cross the first round hurdle in men’s doubles even as Sania Mirza moved to second rounds of her two events at the US Open.
The sixth seeded pair of Paes and Stepanek overcame a spirited challenge from Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 7-6(5), 6-2 in their campaign opener. They next face unseeded combine of Yen-Hsun Lu from Taipei and Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic.
In mixed doubles, top seeds Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares quelled the challenge of Tornado Alicia Black and Ernesto of US Escobedo 6-2 3-6 10-5 in a gruelling first round contest.
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