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Agence France-Presse

Serena Williams battled into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday as top men’s seeds Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev sailed through to the last-eight at Flushing Meadows.
After Williams kept her bid for a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles title alive, second seed Sofia Kenin was sent crashing out in the last-16 by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Williams had to summon up every last ounce of strength to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three hard-fought sets.
The 38-year-old American needed almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Novak Djokovic line judge subjected to vile social media abuse
“She’s such a good competitor. It was a really intense match,” said Williams, who had been dumped out of a US Open tune-up tournament by the same opponent last month.
“I felt like she almost played better today. I was a little fatigued last time and had some cramps. Just felt like I was able to compete longer,” Williams added.


There was little separating the players throughout the energy-sapping contest, with Williams notching 107 total points to Sakkari’s 99.
Williams won 72 per cent of points off her first serve while Sakkari won 73 per cent. Sakkari also outdid Williams on aces, by 13 to 12.
Naomi Osaka marches into quarter-finals after straight sets win against Anett Kontavelt
Williams rallied from two games down in the deciding set, pumping herself up with loud screams that echoed around the spectator-free arena as she broke Sakkari twice to clinch the last-eight spot.
“I’m super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do 365 days of the year,” Williams said afterwards.
The American will play Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the semi-finals after the Bulgarian ousted France’s Alize Cornet in another draining three-setter.
It’s absolutely unreal, I really can’t believe it
Tsvetana Pironkova on making the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows
Pironkova, playing her first tournament in three years after a lengthy break in which she gave birth to her son, prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“It’s absolutely unreal, I really can’t believe it,” said Pironkova, whose last tournament appearance before this year’s US Open was the 2017 Wimbledon championships when she exited in the second round.
Mertens ousted Kenin, this year’s Australian Open champion, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour, 14 minutes to set up a last-eight tie with former world number one Victoria Azarenka.
The Belarusian overcame 20th seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours, 30 minutes at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
In the men’s draw, second-seeded Thiem raced into the round of eight with a three-set demolition of Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Thiem dismantled the 20-year-old 15th seed 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1 in two hours and seven minutes.
“I played a great match today, the best one from my whole America trip,” Thiem said.
He will play Australia’s 21st seed Alex de Minaur for a spot in the semi-finals after the Australian breezed past unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 6-2.

Denis Shapovalov
Shelby Rogers
Alex Zverev
Yulia Putintseva
Borna Coric
Jennifer Brady
Tsvetana Pironkova
Alex de Minaur
What do these people have in common?
They're all first-time #USOpen quarterfinalists pic.twitter.com/bzwuQwZTyF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2020

Third seed Medvedev blew away unseeded American France Tiafoe 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 in only one hour, 38 minutes.
“I’m pleased with the fact that I’ve won all of these sets and didn’t have to stay long on the court. That’s always good when you’re playing a grand slam,” said the Russian.
Medvedev will face compatriot Andrey Rublev for a spot in the last four after the 10th seed ousted Italy’s sixth seed Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The men’s competition was blown wide open on Sunday after world number one Novak Djokovic was thrown out for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match.
His departure means the US Open will this year produce a first-time grand slam winner in the men’s competition.
Williams is seeking to equal Margaret Court’s record for the most women’s grand slam singles titles.
A tournament victory at the weekend would also see her break away from Chris Evert, on six titles, as the most decorated US Open champion of the women’s game in the modern era.


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Serena Williams battles into quarter-finals as Thiem and Medvedev march on

Serena Williams defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece to make the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York on Monday. Photo: EPA

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Novak Djokovic checks on the line judge he hit with the ball, leading to his exit from the US Open. Photo: EPA

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Australia’s Ashleigh Barty with the French Open trophy at Roland Garros. Photo: Reuters

June 8, 2019: Paris, France: Eighth seeded ASHLEIGH BARTY of Australia celebrates at the end of her final match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic at Roland Garros French Tennis Open in Paris. Barty won the Open 6-1, 6-3. (Credit Image: © Judith White/ZUMAPRESS.com

FILED - 07 August 2019, England, London: Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty in action against USA's Alison Riske during their women's singles round of 16 match of the 2019 Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament. The world's number 1 women's tennis player Barty has withdrawn from the US Open, which is set to commence in New York in late August, due to coronavirus concerns. Photo: Steven Paston/PA Wire/dpa

Sep 1, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Serena Williams of the United States celebrates at the net following her match against Kristie Ahn of the United States on day two of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

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Naomi Osaka throws her racquet in her US Open match against Marta Kostyuk. Photo: EPA

Sport

Tennis

The 38-year-old Serena Williams needs almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York


The 38-year-old Serena Williams needs almost two and a half hours to dislodge Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.


Serena Williams

US Open: Serena Williams battles into quarter-finals as Thiem and Medvedev march on

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}The 38-year-old Serena Williams needs almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York

The 38-year-old Serena Williams needs almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York