Sharapova, Wawrinka rally to reach third round

Fourth seed Radwanska becomes tournament’s first big upset.

NEW YORK: French Open champion Maria Sharapova and Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka survived some shaky moments on Wednesday to book their third-round berths at the US Open.

Sharapova, who lifted her fifth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year, fought back from a set down in a gritty 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over 95th-ranked Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.

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, she had her 17th three-set win of the season, the most on the WTA Tour.

“In the end, I felt like I was in much better shape than her,” said Sharapova. “I could have played another few sets. Mentally that helped me a lot.”

Wawrinka, the third seed from Switzerland, turned back the challenge of Brazilian left-hander Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1) to become the first men’s seed into the third round.

“I was playing really well,” said Wawrinka. “I was really aggressive and serving really well.

“When you drop your level a little against Bellucci, it’s tough. He starts playing better.”

Most of Wednesday’s men’s action was wrapping up the first round, and the exits of Steve Johnson and Ryan Harrison meant just three American men reached the second round — the fewest in US Open history.

American women were keeping the home flag flying, and five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams did her part.

The two-time winner, who hadn’t made it past the second round the past three years, reached the third round with a  6-1, 6-4 victory over Timea Bacsinszky.

Radwanska out, Halep moves ahead

Fourth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska became the tournament’s biggest upset victim, falling 6-3, 6-4 to China’s Peng Shuai.

Peng avenged a loss to Radwanska at the 2011 Australian Open where the Chinese player had held two match points.

Poland’s Radwanska was left to ponder why she has never made it past the last 16 in nine US Open appearances.

World number two Simona Halep needed less than an hour to book her third-round berth, with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Slovakian Jana Cepelova.

Sixth-seeded German Angelique Kerber also advanced on cue, downing Russian Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2, 6-4.

Men’s sixth seed Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic brought Lleyton Hewitt’s 62nd Grand Slam appearance to a quick end, downing the former world number one and 2001 champion 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Seventh-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov finally ended his US Open jinx. After coming up empty in three straight appearances, he defeated US wildcard Harrison 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

South African Kevin Anderson rallied from a break down in the final set to defeat Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) in just over four hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2014.

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