NEW YORK, September 4, 2017
The bottom half of the men’s draw was back in action at the US Open on Sunday. Pablo Carreno Busta opened the day and ended the fantastic run of #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
The 26-year-old Spaniard won under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 to reach his second Grand Slam quarterfinal. He was a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in June. His previous-best US Open result was the third round in 2014 and last year.
“It’s amazing. It was the first time I played singles on this court. Arthur Ashe is unbelievable. I cannot describe it. I tried to fight all the time, every point. You never know when your opponent will doubt a little bit or make a mistake. I was focused on my game and I got through,” told Carreno-Busta, who had not dropped a set in reaching the last eight.
Carreno-Busta will next take on Diego Schwartzman. The 25-year-old Argentine outlasted Lucas Pouille of France 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in two hours and 35 minutes, firing 44 winners including nine aces.
Kevin Anderson advanced to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the second time in three years. The 31-year-old South African celebrated a 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 victory over Italian veteran Paolo Lorenzi.
Sevastova Beats Sharapova
In the Women’s draw, No.16 seed Anastasija Sevastova returned to the last eight on Sunday, recovering from a set down to shock 2006 champion and former World No.1 Maria Sharapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
“You prepare yourself for these matches,” said Sevastova, who reached the final here in 2016. “You play for these matches. You play the sport for these matches. I was ready. I played last year on Ashe. I knew what to expect.”
Next up for Sevastova will be unseeded US-American Sloane Stephens, who took out No.30 seed Julia Goerges from Germany 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
“I’m just really happy,” Stephens told the press after her match. “When I started playing again at Wimbledon and D.C., I didn’t expect much. I was just playing and having fun, having a good time. I’m still playing and having a good time. That’s really all there is to it.”
