Anastasija Sevastova got another chance at making history at the US Open Sunday. Last year’s quarterfinalist made it back there with a huge victory over Maria Sharapova winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. The Russian had 51 unforced errors in the entire match that gave the Latvian a thrilling win over a great player.
The Russian’s ability to lock down her first straight sets win in the third round was a positive sign that her competitive spirit was at a stance that could help move her forward. The matchup against the Latvian was an interesting moment as one year ago, Sevastova made the quarterfinals. Her victory came against a high ranked player putting the former number one on notice. Though they haven’t played one another, their skills would clash in what was to be a challenging match.
They began with good service holds on one another with Sharapova picking up the pace with a serve to love in the third. It was setting the bar high for the Latvian who couldn’t keep the Russian back suffering a second straight loss. Sevastova gave herself a good chance to go after the break with good answers playing every point to force deuce. The difficulty came when the former number one found her placement in the court, making it too difficult that ultimately led to a 4-1 score.
Sevastova cut the margin in half playing to adjust on the returns from Sharapova and lay them back down. In a lob rally she began with, Sharapova got into place but the 16th seed countered with a backhand that flew out of reach. She gave herself another chance for a break in the seventh climb back on the board. An error helped put the game to deuce for Sevastova who played on the lob rallies near the net and beat Sharapova on another forehand error.
Sharapova’s issues became larger as the set got closer to concluding. She showed heavy signs of struggle which Sevastova didn’t waste any time breaking down. The eighth ended in a great hold by the Latvian tying up the score in a full comeback from 1-4 down. Sharapova found a way to stop the surge and get her own game back in control with a comfortable service game. It put the 27-year-old in a spot to match the Russian or go down early in the match. In response, Sevastova held Sharapova to a single point capping the five all tie with shot that the Russian couldn’t get back on the backhand.
There was no concern in Sharapova as she made the 11th all about her pressuring the Latvian once more. It was two break points for the former number one that landed a winning return followed by another for set point. It was a strong way to end 52 minutes as her regrouping helped stop the errors which ended at 17 with three double faults. Sevastova had issues with the second serve but there was still more to be played giving her every chance of turning the tables.
She kept pace with Sharapova to start the second matching her on serves until an early break in the third gave her the lead for the first time in the match. Sharapova had four unforced errors through the first three games indicating that the struggles were returning. Sevastova blasted out a second consecutive hold in quick fashion that gave her some breathing room and the first serve on the low end for the 30-year-old.
She slightly improved with a love service in the fifth but hold back Sevastova and get her first serve up. By the seventh, the Russian had the Latvian within reach of a tie but her efforts came up short as the 16th seed had great answers. Sevastova took a 5-3 hold with Sharapova eyeing a third set but held it back a game with a serve to love. It still gave Sevastova another chance to get the set done and dusted and held back Sharapova despite the uneasiness of her task. She finished it in 45 minutes that set up her first three setter in the tournament and Sharapova’s third.
The momentum stayed with the 27-year-old who carried a winning streak into the third with a break of the Russian. She held up her end increasing the streak to four in what looked to be a frustrating time for a top player in yet another long match. The hole was getting deeper for Sharapova as she went down another game before an issue was taken care of during the changeover. She had a visit with the trainer who taped up her right ring finger that had a blister on it before play resumed.
It was just what needed to be done as she broke Sevastova in the fourth to get back into contention. The Russian got her own steak together holding in the fifth but the errors crept back. Forced errors on Sevastova’s serve rocked the former number one earning her a love serve to get to 4-2. A huge break set up the 16th seed with a chance to knockout the popular superstar in the eighth.
It began with an unforced error followed a forced error on the forehand. Sevastova’s timing in the rallies allowed her to reach match point that erased by strong returns that forced deuce. It would take her four match point attempts that finished with a return error landing wide of the front part of the court ending 2 hour and 16 minutes.
She played unbelievable throughout the first and second sets and I just kept fighting,” Sevastova told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi after the match. “I was running every ball and just stayed there.” The Latvian had four attempts to get it done with each one frustrating her when it didn’t go right. When asked about the problem Sevastova gave a joking answer.
“The emotions are high and I wanted to close it so much but that’s me.” She’ll face Sloane Stephens in Tuesdays quarterfinal where she hopes that she can continue her journey. She (Sloane) has had a great summer,” she said. “She’s playing so well on hard courts in America
so I hope it’s gonna be on Ashe and I hope well put on a show.”
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