Caroline Wozniacki celebrates her victory over Maria Sharapova at the US Open in New York. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
It would have made a great final. Instead, Caroline Wozniacki justified her top seeding and ensured that she would go on to meet Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals and Maria Sharapova, much to the disgust of the photographers, was sent home.
Wozniacki, a keen boxing fan and a friend of Denmark's world super middleweight champion, Mikkel Kessler, was cool and commanding in a slugfest before beating the Russian 6-3, 6-4. It was not as easy a victory as the score might suggest.
Sharapova's serve deserted her at key moments, suggesting her retuned action to accommodate her lingering shoulder problems is not clicking properly, although she has not used that as an excuse in this tournament, having cruised past some outclassed opponents. Yesterday she sent down nine double faults and hit 36 unforced errors.
"She's a fighter but to be honest I'm just happy to win," Wozniacki said, charming the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, who maybe now are convinced that the Dane is worth her seeding, despite continued sniping in the media.
Sharapova's Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is seeded 11th, was not so gracious after losing 7-5, 7-6 to the unfancied Cibulkova. She said: "I just didn't feel good. I was very flat. I think she plays good but my level is higher. I played against myself, not against her."
In the men's fourth round, Gaël Monfils had one of his "on" days in beating another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5. Gasquet, who is even more erratic than Monfils, had not dropped a set until yesterday. He conceded: "I think that's my fault. But that's tennis."
Mardy Fish, who came to New York in great form (he beat Andy Murray in Cincinnati), was no match for Novak Djokovic, who won 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The Serb will play Monfils in the quarter-finals.
"Novak played great today," Fish said. "He puts a lot of pressure on you with his movement. He's probably one of the three fastest guys on tour. I just didn't execute, but it's been a great summer."
George Morgan joins Oliver Golding in the next round of the boys' tournament, after beating Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. A player to watch might by the Irishman Sam Barry, who looked terrific in beating the American Nick Chappell in straight sets.
It would have made a great final. Instead, Caroline Wozniacki justified her top seeding and ensured that she would go on to meet Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals and Maria Sharapova, much to the disgust of the photographers, was sent home.
Wozniacki, a keen boxing fan and a friend of Denmark's world super middleweight champion, Mikkel Kessler, was cool and commanding in a slugfest before beating the Russian 6-3, 6-4. It was not as easy a victory as the score might suggest.
Sharapova's serve deserted her at key moments, suggesting her retuned action to accommodate her lingering shoulder problems is not clicking properly, although she has not used that as an excuse in this tournament, having cruised past some outclassed opponents. Yesterday she sent down nine double faults and hit 36 unforced errors.
"She's a fighter but to be honest I'm just happy to win," Wozniacki said, charming the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, who maybe now are convinced that the Dane is worth her seeding, despite continued sniping in the media.
Sharapova's Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is seeded 11th, was not so gracious after losing 7-5, 7-6 to the unfancied Cibulkova. She said: "I just didn't feel good. I was very flat. I think she plays good but my level is higher. I played against myself, not against her."
In the men's fourth round, Gaël Monfils had one of his "on" days in beating another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5. Gasquet, who is even more erratic than Monfils, had not dropped a set until yesterday. He conceded: "I think that's my fault. But that's tennis."
Mardy Fish, who came to New York in great form (he beat Andy Murray in Cincinnati), was no match for Novak Djokovic, who won 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The Serb will play Monfils in the quarter-finals.
"Novak played great today," Fish said. "He puts a lot of pressure on you with his movement. He's probably one of the three fastest guys on tour. I just didn't execute, but it's been a great summer."
George Morgan joins Oliver Golding in the next round of the boys' tournament, after beating Roberto Quiroz of Ecuador 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. A player to watch might by the Irishman Sam Barry, who looked terrific in beating the American Nick Chappell in straight sets.
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