Caroline Wozniacki knocks out Maria Sharapova as another top seed goes down
Roger Federer made to sweat on steamy day in New York
Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the US Open by Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday, leaving the women’s draw with just two of its top eight seeds while Roger Federer made the most of heavy rain to make the last-16.
Five-time grand slam champion Sharapova – the 2006 title winner in New York – was defeated by Danish 10th seed Wozniacki with the 2009 runner-up claiming a deserved 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 triumph on a steamy Arthur Ashe Stadium court to reach the quarter-finals.
Sharapova, looking to add this year’s US Open title to her French Open win in June, was undone by 43 unforced errors and eight double faults.
The hot and humid conditions were so punishing that the players were granted a heat break in the locker room before the third set, and when they returned to the court Wozniacki wasted little time, breaking Sharapova to love in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead.
She broke the Russian superstar again in the final game to seal the victory and a chance to play 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani for a semi-final berth.