Sorana Cirstea upsets Johanna Konta in three sets at the US Open

 

Embed from Getty Images

Sorana Cirstea added another upset to Day Three of the US Open. The Romanian played tough against the ninth seeded Johanna Konta and went three sets to win 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Court 17 at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

The two met once back in Eastbourne where the Brit had the advantage and dominated the Romanian on grass. Despite not getting a chance to play on her favorite surface, Konta’s comfort on the hard courts paid off well of recent, including a victory against Heather Watson in the first round. Cirstea battled against Christina McHale but held her to straight sets. With a chance to even the series against the ninth seed, Cirstea would require a big push and keep the Brit in her rearview mirror.

 

On serve, Cirstea attempted to secure the opening game but a point from Konta forced the two to deuce. They went on through three breaks with the Brit succeeding with breakpoint attempts until the third earned her the lead. She consolidated it with a hold in the second but a streak larger than two was denied by the Romanian. She got on the board and broke back Konta to level after the fourth. The tenth seed answered with another break before going up 4-2.

 

The double for the Brit came in the seventh locking down every breakpoint to serve for the set. Reaching double set point, the 29-year-old let one go but held her last opportunity to close the first in 38 minutes. Relying heavily on the first serve was Konta’s first serve that saw her win more than 80 percent of points. Cirstea had three double faults that helped the tenth seed carry momentum going toward the finish.

 

Cirstea got the ball rolling in the second set and despite being broken in the third, she led Konta going forward. The tenth seed leveled the score each time the Romanian took the lead up to the eighth. The ninth was a critical moment for the 30-year-old to hang on to her service and pressure Konta. The Brit had breakpoint but couldn’t convert the win to them. Cirstea forced deuce, saving another one and soon managed a 5-4 lead.

 

Konta didn’t let anything get in her way and produced a serve to love in the tenth but push the second set deep. That was exactly what occurred in the 11^th as Cirstea and Konta got into a battle for control. The Romanian had the chance to go up 6-5, but the tenth seed struck back to force deuce. Konta had two chances to break but the 30-year-old delivered on gaining the AD point after five breaks to lead 6-5.

 

The British number one served for a chance at a tiebreak and only giving up a point to Cirstea, she clinched the chance to maintain a two-set match. The Romanian caught a mini break on the Brit and suddenly had a 4-2 gap in her favor. Another minibreak went to Cirstea who then had set point. Konta saved three but making the complete comeback was not in the cards. The Romanian ended things in one hour and nine minutes to force a decider.

 

Just when it looked like Konta was going to speed away, she found herself seeing that Cirstea wasn’t messing around. After each held serve, she broke Konta before being broken back. The fifth was just another fight but in the end, Konta held on to take the lead 3-2. The Romanian stabilized her game to remain on serve with the Brit but it was still and uphill battle. Cirstea dug in with Konta in the seventh as a double break chance came for her but was stopped and went to deuce. The Romanian gained two break points early but erred giving the Brit a shot at holding. On the fifth break point, Cirstea reached her sixth break point and took a 4-3 lead on the winner.

 

Consolidating on serve made her efforts build confidence that she had the chance for an upset. Konta got within two but as soon as the Romanian returned to service, her power dominated with a serve to love ending a 2 hour and 52-minute marathon that advanced her to the second round for a fourth year in a row.

 

 

Garbine Muguruza smashes her way out of the US Open in straight sets loss.

Embed from Getty Images

Tsvetana Pironkova made a three-year hiatus count at the US Open Wednesday. The 32-year-old who returned to the sport made her effort shine defeating tenth seeded Garbine Muguruza 7-5, 6-3 on Court 17 at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. The unseeded Bulgarian rattled the nerves of the Spaniard who let anger get the best of her skills and drop her out of the tournament.

 

The two met for the first time with each getting the tournament started right. The Bulgarian had an even match with Ludmilla Samsonova but managed a straight-sets victory. The former world number one had to shake off the ice early against Nao Hibino but warmed up enough to rage through her match in two sets as well. With conditions being warmer than their opening round, Muguruza and Pironkova would have to adapt fast and keep their skills in check.

 

The Spaniard started on her return game which assisted in producing breakpoints that gave her the opening lead. She consolidated with a service hold, but couldn’t keep the winning streak going. After Pironkova got on the board, Muguruza responded with a serve to love where she notched her third ace of the set. Pironkova dug in with a second hold that put Muguruza on notice that this wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.

 

The same went for Pironkova who struggled with putting too much on the ball from her backhand during her service game. She overcame a 0-30 deficit in the seventh before forcing deuce and securing the game, sitting one game behind the tenth seed. She remained that way, holding back Muguruza from another break chance in the ninth. The Spaniard suddenly was under pressure as her mistake on serve in the tenth delivered a break for Pironkova who was even with her opponent for the first time.

 

The tables of control turned with Pironkova overtaking Muguruza with her service that did well to place her in a position to take the set. A double fault and an error didn’t help Muguruza regain control as she fought to force deuce in the 12^th. Despite two breaks to force a tiebreak, Muguruza watched a line drive from Pironkova end the set in 45 minutes with the Spaniard throwing her racket in anger. The return side for the tenth seed was under 40 percent with 15 unforced errors that erased her 16 winners. Before trying to use the set to reset, the former world number one snapped her racket and received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

 

As the second got underway, Pironkova took advantage of her opponent’s issue and scored a serve to love. Muguruza earned a much-needed hold with the realization that she was still in the match. The Bulgarian tried to consolidate her hold with a break in the fourth but the three break points she had disappeared, as Muguruza fought back and held to level. They remained that way through six but as the former world number one tried to make it four-all, a double fault secured the break for Pironkova who served for the match.

 

The 32-year old’s game amplified her confidence and coasted to victory in the ninth earning her 21^st top ten win in 1 hour and 23 minutes.  

 

 

Victoria Azarenka keeps winning streak alive at the US Open

 

Embed from Getty Images

Victoria Azarenka was in control and easily moved into the second round of the US Open Tuesday. The former two-time finalist dispatched Barbara Haas 6-1, 6-2 on Court Five to advance at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

Coming off her victory at the Western and Southern Open, Azarenka has her eyes on becoming a champion for the first time in New York. The 31-year-old who had a tough time coming back from the long break from tennis, pushed herself to be successful. She carries a six-match winning streak and hopes that her first ever meeting against the Austrian is worthwhile. Haas made it to the main draw back in 2016 but didn’t get further than that. With the Belorussian playing like the former world number one, the chances of her pulling off an upset would be on whether she gets the best start at the grand slam.

 

The Belorussian did well serving from the baseline as she allow one point to Haas in the first game, followed by a break in the second. Azarenka went up 3-0 having a slight challenge from the Austrian but holding the break on deuce. The former world number one scored the double break on Haas in just 15 minutes.

 

The former world number one had things well under control with another service game that put her at 5-0 with Haas out of ideas. In the sixth, Azarenka faced three set points before the Austrian produced a comeback. They got to deuce when Haas scored an ace and ended her opponent’s shutout on a forced error to Azarenka. It took nothing away from the 31-year-old as she returned to serve and brought an end to the first with double set point that took 27 minutes.

 

Haas opened the second, leading the way to change the pace. Azarenka managed to follow the Austrian with a win allowing her a single point. Just when the 24-year-old thought that she might be the one to raise the bar each time for Azarenka, the former world number one pushed her to make a mistake on a high ball return. The error led to a break for the Belorussian who was back on serve in the fourth. She allowed Haas two points before taking the game and a 3-1 commanding lead.

 

Another double break was in Azarenka’s hands right before she had a 5-1 lead on the Austrian. Haas etched out another victory in the seventh, but it was all said and done for the Belorussian who finished her evening on court with two match points, completing a straight sets win that took an hour to accomplish.  

Johanna Konta sees victory against Heather Watson in straight sets at the US Open

 

Embed from Getty Images

Johann Konta’s efforts brought her to victory at the US Open Tuesday. Saving six set points in the opening set against Heather Watson, the British number one went on to defeat her compatriot 7-6(7), 6-1 on Court Five at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

The two met three times in the past with their last meeting in Nottingham where Konta won a third over her fellow compatriot. Despite not being able to play on grass this season, the two Brits had their time to play with Konta getting the best out of it. At the Western and Southern Open, the 29-year-old reached the semifinal for the first time in four runs but missed against the resurgent Victoria Azarenka. Despite the defeat, it put her in quite a position as the ninth seed to do well in her eighth US Open and take care of business.

 

Watson was first to take point and held Konta to a point in the opening game. The ninth seed followed suit with a similar hold in the second that led to a comfortable run for both of them. Through the next four games, Konta and Watson held service games, keeping them deadlocked. The seventh was a gamechanger as Konta forced deuce on Watson’s serve. They spanned seven breaks in a 12-minute ordeal that saw Watson hold off Konta’s threat.

 

The 29-year-old leveled at four all but made a push in the ninth for her attack that awarded her with the break. Konta served for the set but couldn’t lock it down as Watson forced the set deeper earning the break back. She held in the 11^th putting pressure on Konta to hold serve and force a tiebreak. A double fault put the ninth seed in trouble but back to back errors from Watson forced deuce, opening up another shot. She gained the first AD point and fired a crosscourt winner that brought a tiebreak into play.

 

Watson gained the edge on the sixth point with a minibreak and scored a forehand winner later on to lead 5-3. The 28-year-old got within set point but Konta answered with back to back points making it 6-5. A hesitation by Watson caused another point to fade away bringing Konta to a six-all situation. After six set point attempts from Watson, Konta earned her first that clinched the victory to lead the match with s 9-7 win that took 75 minutes.

 

The effort needed to bring the opening set to a conclusion brought a force into Konta that saw her get a grip of her opponent. She opened with a service hold and followed it up with a late break of serve. Watson found herself down 3-0 with the need to regroup on service in the fourth. She couldn’t get herself dug in as Konta dictated her game and scored the double break. A breeze through her service game gave her a 5-0 hold to serve for the match with Watson serving to stay alive.

 

Keeping an edge on the ninth seed, Watson tried to put an end to the sixth but on game point, Konta moved her opponent out of the way to force deuce. Another opportunity slipped away for Watson who erred on the second break giving Konta her first match point. A hard drive crosscourt attempt went into the net for the 29-year-old who saw the finish line a little too close. Watson responded with a terrific placement in the court that allowed her to strike a shot that her compatriot couldn’t get to.

 

With the shutout behind her, the ninth seed continued to eye victory and being on serve, the free points from Watson gave her three match points. Konta ended things on court with a return landing long to finish in 1 hour and 48 minutes.

 

In a great show of force late in the match, Konta moves into the second round where she’ll face Sorana Cirstea next.

 

 

 

 

 

Garbine Muguruza edges Nao Hibino in straight sets at the US Open

 

Embed from Getty Images

Garbine Muguruza had a slow start but found her gear and charged to victory at the US Open Tuesday. The Spaniard overcame a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to take down Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-4 on an empty Louis Armstrong Court at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

This marked their third meet against one another and the first since the Olympics in Rio. The Spaniard led the series 2-0 winning in straight sets and looked to get her restart with another. Muguruza last competed at Doha before the pandemic brought her season to a halt. The former world number one spent time on the court with coach Conchita Martinez waiting for the right time to be back in the competition. With the US Open as her opportunity, it would be up to the 26-year-old to get in gear against Hibino or fall face first for a third time in the opening round.

 

Hibino opened the match with a dictated service game delivering aggressive returns in turn. She took advantage of the start, in the second game but blew every break point bringing Muguruza to deuce. Despite losing ground, Hibino managed to produce another break point that delivered a 2-0 lead working the tenth seed. Another service hold from the Japanese star rewarded her with a 3-0 grasp over the world number one who struggled to win points from the second serve.

 

A third double fault from Muguruza forced deuce for Hibino, but a well-placed winner on the line gave her the edge to get on the board in the fourth. With the shutout brought to a close, Hibino continued her march of control scoring a serve to love in the fifth. The tenth seed gained a little more room to settle gaining a second win in the set. She found herself with control earning a break back on Hibino to sit a game down. It was all tied up in the eighth as Muguruza completed the comeback winning 12 of the last 15 points.

 

Winners were overtaking the unforced errors as the Spaniard took the lead with a double break on Hibino eyeing her chance at closing out the set. She stormed to a terrific finish winning her fifth straight to end 40 minutes. Despite racking up four double faults, Muguruza’s 80 percent  from the first serve and five of nine points won from the net indicated her will to play stronger going forward.

 

The streak continued for the tenth seed who rallied to six and notched a third consecutive break of Hibino. Muguruza made it to seven but errors allowed Hibino to end the lengthy streak and avoid a shutout. The tenth seed returned to service in the fourth to take a 3-1 stance but Hibino with a game to her name, added a second victory with a hold of serve. The former world number one sat two games away scoring a serve to love on Hibino who was struggling on both sides of her game. On serve in the seventh, she notched a third double fault with game point in hand.

 

Despite needing four breaks, the longest game of the match remained with the 25-year-old who sat a game from leveling with her opponent. Muguruza denied her that chance, securing the service in the eighth looking to break and move into round two. Muguruza gained a 40-30 for match point in the ninth, but a long ball forced deuce for Hibino who wanted to keep playing. It took her two breaks to get hold of a moment that allowed the Japanese star to hold serve and go for a shot at leveling again. Muguruza had other plans and despite having Hibino on her tail, the 26-year-old reached a second match point, putting the match to rest in 1 hour and 32 minutes. Muguruza maintained a strong first serve winning 83 percent from it while the net points assisted having 20 attempts and scoring on 12.

 

“I was anxious a little bit because I didn’t play for six months and didn’t play the US Open Series to get ready for here,” Muguruza said to Andrew Krasny. “I was happy with my performance. I was expecting for a tough match and it was. She was playing good from the beginning, and I started a little bit slow for how well she was playing and I started to feel better and my game came with the flow of the rhythm and I managed to play at the end pretty good.”

 

Despite the late start, the Spaniard who began her 30^th major clinched her spot in the second round where she’ll face the winner between Liudmila Samsonova and Tsvetana Pironkova on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

Bouchard closes out first win over Fernandez in style at Credit One Bank Invitational

Eugenie Bouchard put a long losing streak behind her at the Credit One Bank Invitational Thursday night. The 26-year-old fought hard through every point with teenage sensation

Leylah Fernandez winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 at Volvo Car Stadium at the Family Circle Tennis Center. The much-needed victory gave Team Peace a six-all tie on Day Four of action.

The two Canadians met for the first and with the opportunity to play tennis, the two were committed to being on the court. Bouchard hadn’t played since her Newport Beach exit in the opening round and knew that no matter what the situation, she had to put together a strong output in returning to action. Fernandez recently finished the Grand Slam Tennis Tours Matchplay and won three out of five. With her fourth in a row coming at Charleston, the 17-year-old looked to keep the winning streak going.

She opened the match with an impressive service game against Bouchard and kept at it on the returns. She threatened early with a breakpoint but the 26-year-old forced deuce to keep the opportunities alive to hold service. After three breaks, it was Fernandez well in control of breakpoints to achieve a 2-0 lead. The Canadian teen won a third straight before Bouchard dug in and managed to lock it down the fourth.

Despite losing out on the game streak, she picked up right where she left off, holding Bouchard to a point while serving. The 26-year-old rallied to cut into Fernandez’s lead and made a statement with a second straight win showing tremendous fight in the seventh. She leveled at four all against the 17-year-old who let a second straight game get away from here. The Canadian veteran had three break points in the eighth but unforced errors and a great net-front shot from Fernandez made it deuce instead.

Control for the lead was becoming fierce between the two as they spanned 16 minutes and went eight breaks before Bouchard was the one to break Fernandez. With the strong accomplishment, the 26-year-old finished off the 17-year-old with two set points, completing the opening set in one hour and four minutes.

Confidence grew for Bouchard who came back from the set break and held serve in the second game. She consolidated a break in the third before suffering a break back by the teen. A third consecutive break went the way of the 26-year-old to maintain the lead but danger lurked its head once more. Fernandez lurked back for the three-all score adding a fourth straight break. The fifth went to the former Wimbledon finalist who was on a mission to be the victor of the match.

She caught the edge with a terrific hold in the eighth that had Fernandez playing to survive. She gave Bouchard two early points before a double fault gave her opponent a triple match point. The 17-year-old saved two and saw deuce forced by a return from Bouchard go wide. On the second break, Bouchard saw Fernandez double fault once more before it came to an end with the Canadian veteran winning on a double fault concluding 1 hour and 58 minutes.

Mattek-Sands wins match over Puig at Credit One Bank Invitational

Bethanie Mattek-Sands came through well in her match at the Credit One Bank Invitational Wednesday afternoon. The captain of Team Peace gave it her best against Monica Puig of Team Kindness to win 6-1, 6-3 on center court at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

The two haven’t played since last year, and with the pause to the sport, both veterans were excited to get on any kind of court. The Puerto Rican had a lot of recovery since her elbow surgery. Getting any kind of win for Puig would help her fight back to action, especially since last playing in October in Luxembourg. The American got back into singles action last season playing nine matches. With her entry back into the exhibition, she would give the reigning Olympic champion a fight on the green clay.

It certainly went that way in the opening game as Puig challenged the serve of Mattek-Sands

forcing deuce.  After six breaks and aces helping the American, she managed to hold serve to gain a break on the 26-year-old. Puig earned the break back in the third but couldn’t hold serve in her for the second time in the opening set. Mattek-Sands was on a roll with her fourth game win looking to close out the first on serve. With three set points, the 35-year-old put it away with a great forehand while moving into the net, making it hard for Puig to answer.

As the second began, Puig got on the board with a battle with Mattek-Sands getting into another deuce draw, avoiding a lengthy one achieving the first break. Despite her efforts, the American got back to business, taking the next three straight before Puig found a way to get back on track. She leveled the score at three-all earning her second break of Mattek-Sands, but allowed the American to regain the lead in the seventh.

A great service game in the eight put Mattek-Sands closer to a strong win in Charleston getting lucky with a point that saw her low behind the baseline. The 35-year-old finished off the match blanking Puig on serve in the ninth for three match points, giving the victory for Team Peace in 1 hour, and 28 minutes, just before the rain began to fall on the court.