NEW YORK, September 4, 2018
No.19 seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia advanced to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time by knocking off defending US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-3 on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon.
“I think it was third time lucky,” said Sevastova, who had reached the stage of the final eight at the US Open in each of the last three years, during her press conference. “But again, if I would lose I would also be proud of myself. Three times quarters. It’s not happening every year or every day.”
She will face either 23-time major champion Serena Williams or eighth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova for a place in the final.
Battle of the giants
History has been made on the 50th anniversary of the US Open. For the first time in the Open Era, eight different countries are represented by the eight US Open men’s singles quarterfinalists. A record was also set in the Round of 16 with 15 different countries represented.
John Isner of the United States meets Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina with a chance to become the first US-American semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2006.
While Isner has lost five sets at this event, Del Potro has not dropped any en route to his third straight US Open quarterfinal and sixth overall in 10 appearances. Isner has spent 12 hours and five minutes on court in New York, while Del Potro’s matches have lasted a combined eight hours and 44 minutes. Del Potro, the 2009 champion and 2017 semi-finalist, is 33-8 at the US Open. He missed the event in 2010, 2014 and 2015 with wrist injuries.
Extreme heat policy
For the day session, the US Open released a statement on extreme heat:
“The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature measurement taken at the US Open at 1 p.m. exceeded 32.2 degrees Celsius. Therefore, all junior boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles matches in progress and scheduled have been suspended until further notice.
“Temperature readings will now take place every half hour. The next reading in which the Wet Bulb measurement reads below 32.2 degrees Celsius, junior matches will resume, following a half-hour warm-up period.
“The Extreme Heat policy remains in effect for women’s and men’s singles matches.
“For all men’s singles matches, a 10-minute break will be allowed between the third and fourth sets if either player requests such a break. If both players decline a 10-minute break, then play shall be continuous. Appropriate medical timeouts for heat-related illness are allowed.
“For all women’s singles matches, a 10-minute break will be allowed between the second and third sets if either player requests such a break. If both players decline a 10-minute break, then play shall be continuous. Appropriate medical timeouts for heat-related illness are allowed.”
