Serena reaches quarters, Radwanska ousted by teenager
It was another record-breaking day for world number one Serena Williams at the US Open, but fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was eliminated in the fourth round.
Serena became the winningest player in Open Era history with her 308th grand-slam victory, after seeing off Yaroslava Shvedova on Monday.
Radwanska crashed out, swept aside by 18-year-old Ana Konjuh.
Venus – the sixth seed – was unable to add a second Williams name to the quarter-final program following her three-set loss to Karolina Pliskova.
Simona Halep also progressed to the last eight of the year’s final grand slam.
SERENA – THE OPEN ERA QUEEN
Another day, and another record for Serena, who surpassed Roger Federer’s all-time record of 307 major wins on Monday.
History made. Again.#Serena becomes overall Open Era leader in major match wins, def. Shvedova, 6-2, 6-3. #usopen pic.twitter.com/A8HOAZt4Vz
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2016
The 22-time grand-slam champion broke Shvedova in her first service game, Williams striking for a 2-0 lead after seeing four break points go begging.
Shvedova never made an impression on the Williams serve and the American veteran wrapped up the set via one of her opponent’s 17 unforced errors, which handed her a second break.
Williams found somewhat sterner resistance from Shvedova in the second, but she made no mistake in grasping the only break point of the set to go 4-2 ahead.
And two games later victory was wrapped with a vicious serve that Shvedova could only meekly swat into the net.
CROATIAN TEENAGER STUNS RADWANSKA
Konjuh produced a performance beyond her tender years to upstage Radwanska 6-4 6-4.
Looking to progress beyond the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in her career, Radwanska appeared on track for a routine win after earning a 2-0 lead at the start of the opening set but it was all downhill from there.
Konjuh went toe-to-toe with her more experienced opponent but she was not overawed at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
First Grand Slam Quarterfinal!
18 year old @AnaKonjuh upsets Radwanska 6-4, 6-4! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/oXRPREwE2E
— WTA (@WTA) September 6, 2016
VENUS SAYS GOODBYE
It was not meant to be for two-time US Open champion Venus, who was outlasted by Pliskova at Flushing Meadows.
Williams fended off three match points when trailing 6-5 but she could not deny Pliskova in the tie-break as the 10th seed recorded 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory.
With the win, Pliskova advanced to her maiden grand slam quarter-final: “It was very difficult when I lost my serve at 6-5. But I am very happy to come back to win.”
“We competed really well, it was a high quality match. I enjoyed every moment playing!” – @VenusesWilliams #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Te9gkRzxAc
— WTA (@WTA) September 6, 2016
HALEP BATTLES INTO QUARTERS
The Romanian fifth seed overcame Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 7-5.
In a battle of the two seeds, with Navarro seeded 11th, Halep came out on top to reach the last eight of the US Open for a second consecutive year.
A semi-finalist last year, Halep raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and she never looked back.
Navarro showed some fight in the second, rallying from 3-5 down to level the set but Halep held her nerve to reign supreme.
“This was very special today to win,” said Halep. “I want to enjoy today.”
SEMIS ON THE LINE
World number two Angelique Kerber will face last year’s finalist Roberta Vinci in Tuesday’s first quarter-final, while Caroline Wozniacki is up against Anastasija Sevastova.
