Women seeds sent packing in US Open shock
Print Edition
THE US Open women’s draw was blown wide open by a series of upsets on Friday but it was business as usual on the men’s side with Roger Federer leading a parade of seeds into the third round at the year’s final grand slam.
The shockwaves began early on another sunny day at Flushing Meadows with 32-year-old qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni dismissing Romanian second seed Simona Halep 7-6 (6), 6-2 to reach the fourth round.
Lucic-Baroni, who failed to build on her run to the 1999 Wimbledon semifinals, was almost overcome by the victory. “I mean, I’m a little bit emotional now. Sorry,” she said, wiping away tears. “It’s been really hard.
“After so many years to be here again, it’s incredible. I wanted this so bad. So many times I would get to ... a place where I could do it.
“Then I wanted it so bad that I’m kind of burned out. I’m so happy.”
The tremors continued at the US National Tennis Center as Swiss teen Belinda Bencic ousted sixth-seeded German Angelique Kerber 6-1, 7-5 to reach the round of 16 in her US Open debut.
The tournament also lost a fan favorite when Italy’s Sara Errani posted her first career win over twice champion and 19th seed Venus Williams, coming out on top in an absorbing roller-coaster clash 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (5).
China’s Peng Shuai, showing no sign of a let-down after her win over Agnieska Radwanska, dispatched another seeded player in No. 28 Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3.
By the time fifth seed Maria Sharapova had closed out the action under the Arthur Ashe Stadium floodlights with a labored 6-2, 6-4 win over Germany’s Sabine Lisicki the top of the women’s draw had lost four of the top eight seeds.
The top 10 men’s seeds, however, remain intact.
Federer, Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych and seventh-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov all advanced on Friday.
The highest-ranked casualty was Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, the 11th seed, who was ousted by 45th-ranked Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 3-6.
Federer, chasing an 18th grand slam title, served up a tidy 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over big-hitting Australian Sam Groth to ease into the third round.
The former world No. 1 has feasted on Australian opponents in grand slams over the years, piling up an 18-1 record against men from Down Under, and Groth, who was facing a top 10 opponent for the first time, proved little more than a distraction to the Swiss maestro.
Ferrer reached the third round without lifting his racket when Australian Bernard Tomic withdrew with a hip injury, while Dimitrov breezed into the third round with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Israel’s Dudi Sela.
Berdych had a much tougher time, needing five sets and three hours 45 minutes to tame Martin Klizan of Slovakia 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
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