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28 March 2024

US Open: Murray seals berth in last eight with win over Istomin

Published
By Agencies

Defending champion Andy Murray reached the US Open quarter-finals for a third successive year with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Denis Istomin, the Uzbek coached by his mother.

British third seed Murray overcame dropping a set for the second time in the tournament to set up a clash against Stanislas Wawrinka, the ninth-seeded Swiss, who put out Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych.

Murray has an 8-5 winning advantage over Wawrinka, although the Swiss won their third round clash in New York in 2010.

The 26-year-old Murray took his record in the majors this year to 17-1 with his second win of 2013 over Istomin after also seeing off the Uzbek player on his way to the Brisbane title in January.

Istomin, the 26-year-old world number 65 who has been coached by his mother Klaudiya since his junior days, sported a bright orange shirt for the encounter and he had Murray dazzled in the first set.

"It was tough with a strong breeze and we both struggled with our timing," said Murray.

"I tried to dictate the points after the first set when I had the wind with me and use my forehand more."

On facing Wawrinka, the Scot added: "He's a very tough player. He's been playing great tennis for years and will go higher in the rankings after this tournament.

"We played on this court a few years back when we were much younger, but a lot has changed since then."

Wawrinka powers into quarter-finals

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka powered through a high-quality match against Czech Tomas Berdych on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The ninth seed beat Berdych 3-6 6-1 7-6(6) 6-2 in two hours and 47 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Wawrinka, who has had to live in the shadow of compatriot Roger Federer back home, was blown off the court by Berdych in the first set, but in a match featuring superb ball striking and a combined 68 winners, Wawrinka's consistency proved the difference against the fifth-seeded Czech.

He closed out the match by breaking Berdych's serve for the sixth time to move into a quarter-final against Britain's defending champion Andy Murray or Russia's Denis Istomin.

"It's always tough to play against Tomas," Wawrinka said.

"He always puts you under pressure. I'm just really, really happy. Tonight is a night I will never forget."

Serena slams double bagel to reach last four

Defending champion Serena Williams walloped Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-0 to race into the semifinals of the US Open on Tuesday.

Top seed Williams served up the dreaded "double-bagel" in a blazing 52 minutes to set up a clash with fifth seed Li Na, who earlier became China's first US Open semi-finalist by beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

"Honestly she's a great player," said Williams, blaming the windy conditions for the Spaniard's futility. "The conditions today were so tough. It was not her best tennis today."

Suarez Navarro's consolation is a $325,000 check on her 25th birthday for her first US Open quarter-final.

Djokovic near perfect in reaching quarter-finals

Top seed Novak Djokovic demolished unseeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 6-0 on Tuesday to charge into the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Djokovic, the 2011 US Open champion and runner-up last year, won the last 13 games to finish off the fourth-round match in 79 minutes.



The 26-year-old Serb was dominant in every phase and excelled particularly from the service line, winning the first 25 points of the match on his serve.

"I played one of the better matches I've ever played here in my life," the world number one, who has yet to lose a set in the tournament, said on court. "I had everything working, every part of my game and that's a great encouragement."

Djokovic advanced to a quarter-finals clash against Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, a 6-3 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 7-5 winner against Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

"Today, the second and third set have been some of the best tennis that I've played on Arthur Ashe in my career," said Djokovic, who has flashed some wondrous form on the centre court over the years.

"I was wishing to be more aggressive as the tournament progresses and to be able to stay committed to play every point, to win every point, regardless of what's the score."

Djokovic was sublime from the service line, winning the first 25 points on his serve despite notching only two aces in the whirlwind victory.

The world number one cracked 34 winners, dividing them almost evenly between both wings and won a remarkable 28 of 30 points he contested at the net.

Djokovic said he has been spending a lot of time on varying his attack and improving his net play.

"I know I can defend well and I have a good transition, but also it's obvious that my game is based on a baseline," he said. "I have many opportunities during the match to come to the net and finish out the point earlier.

"That's one of the things on the practice agenda that we have with our team. We are working on the serve, getting more precise, efficient, and using the opportunities to just make a winner and come to the net.

The new-look Djokovic, rushing to the net to finish off quick points, could prove to be an undeniable force as he takes aim on a second US Open title.

"It's a great joy. It's a fantastic feeling when you're playing this well," said Australian Open champion Djokovic.

"You love spending time on the court and experiencing such great zone where you are at that moment."

Youzhny, the 21st seed, outbattled renowned fighter Hewitt by overcoming deficits of 1-4 in the fourth set, and 2-5 in the fifth, as he won the last five games of the match.

"Obviously, it could have gone either way," said 32-year-old unseeded Hewitt, who had upset sixth-seeded former champion Juan Martin del Potro in the second round and was trying to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.

"There were a lot of momentum changes. In the end, he played the big games when he needed to."

Li becomes China's first US Open semi-finalist

Li Na broke another barrier for Chinese tennis, becoming China's first semi-finalist at the US Open by beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 on Tuesday at windy Flushing Meadows.

The 31-year-old, fifth-seeded Li pumped both fists in joy after 24th seed Makarova sailed a backhand long to end the two-hour, 20-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the crowd showered her with cheers.



"For me, this is the first time to come to the semifinals, so I'm very proud of myself," said Li, who looked about to claim victory in two sets after winning the first three points of the tiebreaker and holding a 4-2 lead.

"After I lose the second set, I was sad. But I just told myself to go point by point."

Li's win over the Russian left-hander helped restore order after Monday's shocking straight sets, fourth-round surrender by Roger Federer to Tommy Robredo.

Earlier, women's second seed Victoria Azarenka overcame Ana Ivanovic, the 13th seed, 4-6 6-3 6-4 to complete the women's quarter-finals field after their contest was postponed from Monday due to nearly five hours of rain delays.

The world number two Belarussian, US Open runner-up last year to Serena Williams, will play unseeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the last eight.

LAST BARRIER

The US Open had been the last Grand Slam where Chinese women had stalled before reaching the final four.

Zheng Jie was the first Chinese player to reach a grand slam semi-final, making the last four at Wimbledon in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2010, but Li has enjoyed even greater success.

Two years ago, Li became the first Chinese to make a grand slam final when she finished runner-up in Australia and a few months later she won the 2011 French Open to become China's first grand slam champion.

Li took the fight to Makarova in her quarter-final, smashing 44 winners against just 15 for the more defensive 25-year-old Makarova, though the Chinese struggled with eight double faults.

Azarenka and former world number one Ivanovic had even more trouble serving in the day's opening match, where holding serve was the exception rather than the rule.

In a match of 29 games, there were 16 service breaks with Azarenka fittingly ending the two-hour, 10-minute struggle by breaking Ivanovic for the ninth time of the contest, when Ivanovic netted a backhand on the fourth match point.

Azarenka had her serve broken seven times and committed nine double faults, while Ivanovic lost nine of her service games and made eight doubles after playing a brilliant first set.

"It was a big battle. That's what I was expecting from Ana," said Azarenka.

Ivanovic, making a concerted effort to climb back up the rankings after a long slump, tried to see the bright side.

"It's very encouraging, because I know I'm right there," she said. "It's definitely a lot of positives to take from this week and this match. But it still doesn't change. It's disappointing and it hurts."