HomeTennisOsaka, Zverev make the last four with contrasting wins

Osaka, Zverev make the last four with contrasting wins

- Advertisement -

Day 9 at the Flushing Meadows saw men’s World No.7 Alexander Zverev and 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka move to the semi-finals of the year’s last major.

The German, who is seen among the top title contenders in the men’s draw, came through a tough four-setter against World No.32 Croat Borna Coric. The Croat got off to a roaring start at the Arthur Ashe stadium, claiming two service breaks and winning the opening set 6-1.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

However, just when it looked like the German may be headed for the exit door, he produced a stunning comeback, taking the next three sets 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Wary not to look too far ahead, Zverev said, “We are going to have a new Grand Slam champion. This is the one thing that we know for sure. We don’t know who it is but there are a lot of guys who want it. There are a lot of guys who are hungry for it.”

In another last-8 encounter at the famed arena, the Japanese two-time Grand Slam champion came through in straight sets against 93rd-ranked American Shelby Rogers. Rogers was simply no match for her superior opponent as the latter waltzed into the semi-final with a facile 6-3, 6-4 win to book passage to the semi-final.

Image
(Credits: Twitter/ US Open Tennis)

Reflecting on how far she has come to be among the contemporary stars in the game, Osaka said, “I don’t think a person can ever be truly comfortable. But I’m aware that I worked very hard to be in this position.”

In another keenly watched last-8 battle at the Arthur Ashe, 27th-ranked Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta came through a tough five-setter against World No.17 Canadian Denis Shapovalov. The Spaniard, who was leading World No.1 Novak Djokovic when the latter was disqualified from the tournament for accidentally hitting a lineswoman with a tennis ball in a moment of fury, took the opening set rather comfortably before dropping the next two. However, just when it seemed that his opponent had the momentum going his way, Busta staged a spirited fightback, taking the next two sets and booking himself a place in the last four. 

In more quarter-final action, 41st-ranked American Jennifer Brady moved to the last-4 stage with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over 35th-ranked Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

In men’s doubles semi-final action at the Arthur Ashe, Brit-American doubles pair of Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram lost to Dutch Wesley Koolhof and his Croat partner Nicola Metkic 7-6, 6-4.

Wesley and Metkic drew Brazilian Bruno Soares and Croat Mate Pavic in the final. The Brazilian-Croat duo came through in straight sets against Jean-Julien Roger of the Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania.

In women’s doubles action, Russian pair of Anna Blinkova and Veronica Kudermetova lost to German Laura Siegemund and Russain Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 3-6, 5-7.

Day 10 will see Slam queen Serena Williams taking on Tsvetana Prironkova of Bulgaria for a place in the final. In an all-Russian men’s semi-final at Arthur Ashe, Daniil Medvedev will battle Andrey Ruvlev. 

In another women’s last-8 encounter, Belarussian Victoria Azarenka will take on Belgian Elise Mertens.

- Advertisement -

Do we often under-appreciate Andy Flower? What’s his legacy?

There's a hint of sadness in noting that Zimbabwe has never been a dominant power in world cricket. But nothing could be sadder than...

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

Cricket is a game of passion and dedication. A sport in which one involves themselves in camps and practice since early childhood. Due to...

IPL 2018: The beautiful Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Being seated in the Sawai Mansingh stadium brings a different world, a world of difference away from the palpable excitement of watching truly India’s...

IPL 2018: Purple Cap Holders Over The Years

The Indian Premier League (IPL), like any other global T20s league,  has been a batsman's paradise. In the batsmen friendly format, bowlers have found...

What can be expected from the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Heat in the air and heat inside the car- that's been the story of the Azerbaijan Grand prix. As F1 parks itself at Baku...

How Come UFC Fighters Have Cauliflower Ears But Boxers Don’t?

The UFC has come a long way since its early days, wherein the fights seemed like modern-day gladiators due to its brutality and inconsistent...

Top 5 Left Wingers In The World, Based On 2019-20 Season

Owing to the fact that football has evolved a lot since its inception and the tactics have changed a lot, the role of wingers...

5 spinners who can be India’s potential finger-spinners

The Indian cricket team has always been proud of its ability to produce world-class batsmen and similarly potent spinners. Though in recent times, the...

Big change for India Women’s cricket as BCCI looks to finalise bowling coach soon

We are not even at the halfway stage of the 2018 cricketing season. It clearly seems there's no stopping India's women's cricket team. The...

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

There was a time when Mario Balotelli was on top of the world.  The Italian talisman had scored two goals in the Euro 2012 semi-finals,...

Amid an unstoppable flow of runs, Smriti Mandhana tipped to get prestigious Arjuna Award

When the BCCI announced that free-hitting batswoman Smriti Mandhana would be awarded the Arjuna Award, there were more smiles than doubts. For Smriti Mandhana,...

Fresh fitness blow adds to woes for Mohammed Shami

Earlier this year, India fast bowler Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker in South Africa and helped the national team to win a Test...

IPL 2018: The best from the West Indies

When one of nature's treacherous attacks on mankind- earthquakes- strike, their impact is measured on Richter's scale. When West Indians strike in a tournament...

Who Is the Better Formula 1 Racer, Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton?

Despite Verstappen’s first win in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, a new debate has sparked on which Formula 1 racer is better? Max Verstappen...

IPL 2018: Orange Cap Holders Over The Years

The last decade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 has gone on to give us a strong list of batsmen, who have taken...

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -