US Open 2012 daily report: Serena and Murray stroll into quarters
The major stories from the middle weekend of the 2012 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York...
The name on everyone's trophy watch is Serena Williams, as the Wimbledon and Olympic champion progressed to the quarter-finals in some style, with a 6-0, 6-0 beatdown of Andrea Hlavackova in 57 minutes. But, being Serena, she wasn’t reading into it too much.
“I don’t think it says anything,” Williams said. “It says I’m focused, but it just says that I’m just trying like everyone else to be consistent and to do the best that I can. I feel like today I’m getting more comfortable with the court and comfortable with the conditions.”
She was back on the court again alongside sister Venus for their doubles third round against Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova, the sisters losing somewhat unexpectedly, having run into the Russians far earlier than they would otherwise have done if they had been seeded.
“Venus is the leader, she’s definitely the leader,” Serena said. “I think she was the leader because when we first started she was older and obviously so much better than I was. She always took the lead position. But we are both such A-players and such A-type personalities that we both can be leaders if one of us is down. I can easily take over that position and I welcome it. So it’s great. It’s the best chemistry.”
Serena will next meet Ana Ivanovic, through to her first Grand Slam quarter-final since Roland Garros 2008 after breezing past Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0, 6-4.
“It’s amazing,” Ivanovic said. “I have been here in fourth round quite a few times so to make that step and reach quarter-final, and also the first time since ’08 which I’m very thrilled about.”
It was a satisfying moment for Ivanovic, who described her career as “a rollercoaster.”
“There were some good moments and some tough ones, but it’s a process. I understand it better now,” Ivanovic said. “You can’t have everything at the same time. I put myself lots of times in opportunities for the big matches and the big wins, and I never managed to do that. Now I have another chance and I really hope I can pull it together this time.”
But Serena’s opponent in the Wimbledon final, Agnieszka Radwanska, was on the wrong end of a beatdown herself, upset 1-6, 4-6 by Roberta Vinci. It was a disappointing result for the world No.2, who has been struggling with injury almost ever since losing to Serena at SW19.
Another upset also came at the hands of an Italian, as Sara Errani dug deep to beat last year’s US Open semi-finalist, Angelique Kerber, also in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3.
“It was incredible fight, I think,” Errani said. “It was very difficult match mentally and also physically. Was just a few points, so was very near all the points. I tried to be as focused as possible. I tried to fight all the point as the last one.”
Somewhat ironically, the pair, also one of the tour’s most successful doubles partnerships this year, will now play each other in the quarter-finals.
“We are very friends outside the court,” Errani said. “This one is one thing that helps very much on the court.”
“I’m happy to play against her , for sure an Italian goes to the semi-final,” Vinci said. I’m so happy, so excited.”
The other two quarter-finals will be between Victoria Azarenka and Sam Stosur, and Maria Sharapova and Marion Bartoli.
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It was not quite the battle envisaged as Andy Murray executed to a level befitting the world No.4 in his clinical 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over Milos Roanic to reach the quarter-finals. Playing under the lights on Arthur Ashe, Murray frustrated the big-serving Canadian by moving him around the court, and even though Raonic thundered down the aces, he couldn't keep up with Murray. The Scot didn't face a single break point on serve, wrapping up the match in two hours exactly.
Through to the quarter-finals in New York for the third time, Murray will face Marin Cilic, the Croat who upset the Scot on these courts in the fourth round in 2009.
Cilic got better and better against Martin Klizan, beating the underdog Slovak, who had upset Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-5, 6-4, 6-0 to reach the quarters. Cilic won 10 games in a row to wrap up the match, and make the quarter-finals in New York for the second time.
Roger Federer was gifted his passage to his 34th consecutive Grand Slam singles quarter-final when Mardy Fish withdrew from their fourth round with ‘health concerns.’ It is thought to be a re-appearance of the heart problems he had earlier in the year.
“I regret that I have to withdraw from the US Open for precautionary measures," Fish said in a statement. "I was reluctant to do so, but am following medical advisement. I had a good summer and look forward to resuming my tournament schedule in the fall.”
Federer expressed his best wishes for Fish's health and next faces No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.
"I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery. We all want to see him back on tour soon," Federer said. "It will be a tough match against Tomas. We have played many times in the past and he has always been a tough opponent. I will have to continue to serve well and dictate the points."
Federer’s foe in the last eight will be Tomas Berdych, who beat the Swiss at Wimbledon in 2010 and at the Olympics in Athens. Berdych brushed aside Nicolas Almagro in three sets to make his second Slam quarter-final of the year, having also reached the last eight in Melbourne.
Oddity of the day
Sabine Lisicki and Peng Shuai were warned for taking a bathroom break and not actually using the bathroom.
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Watching the weather
For the fourth year in the row, the second week of the US Open looks likely to be hit by bad weather. The skies were dark for most of the day, and the Arthur Ashe night session schedule was re-shuffled, the Williams sisters moving to Armstrong, and the Murray v Raonic match brought forward.
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Left over from last night
In case you missed it, Philip Kohlschreiber’s upset of John Isner late last night, or early this morning, to be precise, tied the record for the latest-ever finish at the US Open, the German converting match point at 2.26am. The previous record holder was a 1993 victory by Mats Wilander over countryman Mikael Pernfors.
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Coming up tomorrow
Arthur Ashe
Victoria Azarenka v Samantha Stosur
Maria Sharapova v Marion Bartoli
Stanislas Wawrinka v Novak Djokovic in the day
followed by Juan Martin Del Potro v Andy Roddick and the Bryan brothers v Benneteau and Mahut at night.
Louis Armstrong
Richard Gasquet v David Ferrer
Janko Tipsarevic v Philipp Kohlschreiber
For full scores, draws and results, and videos from Flushing Meadows, check out the US Open official website.
