New York | Swiatek and Haddad Maia sail into Final 16 in Day 6 night time session matches

World No 1 Iga Swiatek continued her clean progress into the Final 16 with a 6-4 6-2 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova within the first night time session match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, outclassing the Russian twenty fifth seed, and advancing with out going through a break level.

I am staying in a unique a part of town, and I am having fun with some eating places. I am performing some Legos. I am studying so much. I used to be watching ‘Trendy Household’ for the previous few weeks, however I used to be watching it an excessive amount of in Cincinnati, most likely, so I’ve to stability it. I’m studying extra. Really, Beatriz Haddad Maia really helpful me a pleasant guide. So I’ve one thing to learn. Iga Swiatek

On paper, the prospect of enjoying 33-year-old Pavlyuchenkova didn’t look to pose a lot of a menace to Swiatek, however the Russian is a former finalist at Roland Garros, in 2021, and reached a career-high rating of 11 that very same yr, whereas she additionally made the quarter-finals right here in New York 13 years in the past.

The 2022 US Open champion, although, obtained previous her in some model, incomes an early break to guide 3-1 within the opening set, and hanging her personal model of the depraved back-spinning winner that has been the signature hot-shot of the opening week of the match.

In response to a giant first serve down the tee from Pavlyuchenkova, Swiatek lunged for a forehand squash return that floated within the air earlier than touchdown simply over the web.

Pavlyuchenkova’s informal jog in direction of what seemed like a straightforward put-away was shortly derailed by the spin on the ball, which took it proper again over the web, and out of her attain for a clear winner.

Swiatek put her fingers as much as apologise, and Pavlyuchenkova might solely drop her head and faucet the net-cord in disbelief.

“I’d be giving an excessive amount of credit score to myself if I mentioned I had management over it,” Swiatek mentioned after the match. “However I assume in conditions like that, you bear in mind it’s value it to, sort of, attain for each ball, despite the fact that you suppose you won’t get it. It was principally luck!”

© Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs

Swiatek improved her head-to-head report to 2-0 over Pavlyuchenkova with a efficiency that was equal elements gritty and dominant.

Bidding to make her second Grand Slam 4th spherical of the season, the 23-year previous Pole broke instantly within the first recreation, and guarded that lead underneath strain to take the primary set after 51 minutes.

She didn’t face a break level within the opener, however the Russian was in a position to take 3 of the Pole’s service video games to 30-all.

The second set began with a present of aggression on the a part of Pavlyuchenkova, who pulled Swiatek to the web with a drop-shot, then clobbered her with a ball pushed immediately on the torso.

Swiatek gave her an icy look, and a good frostier glare after they modified ends, and it solely served to galvanise the World No 1 to play with extra objective, breaking to go up 2-1, then holding serve to extend that result in 3-1.

With the end line in sight, Swiatek’s technique gave the impression to be to increase the lengthy rallies till her opponent made an error, normally by overhitting, and the Russian racked up 16 errors to her 15 winners when she misplaced her serve once more to go down 1-4, whereas the Pole had dedicated only one unforced error.

On the 89-minute mark, Swiatek was serving at 5-2, and serenely closed it out.

“For positive, she’s an ideal participant,” mentioned Swiatek after the match. “I solely have to concentrate on myself… principally through the rallies I used to be specializing in what I wished to do.”

She completed with 19 winners to 9 unforced errors after an hour and 32 minutes of pure, dominating tennis.

After the match, Swiatek mentioned she was protecting a decrease profile in New York this yr, a transfer that has helped her recharge after a gruelling summer time.

She has moved by means of her draw with out shedding a set, and is now a win away from advancing to her first Grand Slam quarter-final on a tough court docket because the 2022 Australian Open.

“I’m staying in a unique a part of town, and I’m having fun with some eating places,” she mentioned. “I’m performing some Legos. I’m studying so much. I used to be watching ‘Trendy Household’ for the previous few weeks, however I used to be watching it an excessive amount of in Cincinnati, most likely, so I’ve to stability it.

“I’m studying extra. Really, Beatriz Haddad Maia really helpful me a pleasant guide. So I’ve one thing to learn.”

Liudmila Samsonova (L), the sixteenth seed, was a surprisingly straightforward winner over Ashlyn Krueger to arrange a Final 16 conflict with Iga Swiatek

© Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs

Swiatek subsequent will face No 16 seed Liudmila Samsonova, one other Russian, in a rematch of final autumn’s China Open remaining, which the Pole gained, 6-2 6-2.

After surviving a 3-set scare the spherical earlier than towards Marie Bouzkova, Samsonova had no such worries in on Saturday, as she routed the younger American Ashlyn Krueger in a close to flawless efficiency, 6-1 6-1, within the pleasant confines of Stadium 17 on the outer reaches of the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart grounds to succeed in the 4th spherical for the second time in her profession.

Samsonova has performed away from the highlight through the first week, however that can now change in a giant manner in her subsequent match when she meets Swiatek.

Beatriz Haddad Maia, seeded 22, obtained previous a controversial determination to upset Anna Kalinskaya, the No 15 seed, in straight units on Saturday night time

© Luke Hales/Getty Photographs

Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 22 seed, booked her place within the Final 16 on Saturday after successful a controversial video assessment, which derailed her opponent Anna Kalinskaya, the fifteenth seed from Russia.

Kalinskaya was 2-0 forward within the opening set of the second night time match on Louis Armstrong Stadium when she referred to as for a video assessment, claiming that her Brazilian opponent had gained a degree off a double bounce.

Chair umpire Miriam Bley consulted her pill display and determined that the shot was reputable, and the purpose was allowed to face.

Kalinskaya by no means recovered her composure, and gained solely 2 of the following 14 video games because the Brazilian left-hander set-up a Final 16 conflict with former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark.

The US Open launched video replays final yr, and has expanded it for 2024 to cowl 8 courts.

Caroline Wozniacki dispatched qualifier Jessika Ponchet in 2 straightforward units to make the Final 16 on Day 6 of the US Open

© Al Bello/Getty Photographs

Earlier within the day session, Wozniacki noticed off French qualifier Jessika Ponchet, 6-3 6-2, to make the 4th-round and match her 2023 run on the US Open.

“I’m actually blissful to be by means of at present,” Wozniacki mentioned. “She was enjoying unorthodox tennis. It was a bit exhausting to learn her recreation.”

On paper, the expertise hole between the 2 gamers was obvious, as Wozniacki has twice been a US Open runner-up and held the World No 1 rating for 71 weeks, whereas Ponchet had misplaced within the 1st-round of qualifying 5 occasions, however got here again this yr to earn her first spot in the primary draw, reaching the third spherical by defeating Zheng Saisai of China in her opener, and by walkover when the No 4 seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from their 2nd-round match.

On a sunny Saturday within the Grandstand, Wozniacki jumped out to a 3-0 lead earlier than closing the set in 32 minutes, with 7 winners, to Ponchet’s 8, and with 10 fewer unforced errors.

The Dane additionally put 75% of her first serves into play, whereas the 27-year-old Frenchwoman landed 48%.

Within the second set, Ponchet was damaged within the first recreation after 5 deuces when Wozniacki transformed her third break level, and after the Dane constructed a 4-0 lead, the Frenchwoman held serve to path, 4-1.

After an hour and 10 minutes, Wozniacki led 5-2 and served for the match, and, after Ponchet claimed the primary two factors, she roared again with a forehand winner after a 23-shot rally.

Two factors later, Wozniacki served for the match, and gained it when Ponchet’s return went huge.

“I’d like to go all the way in which,” Wozniacki mentioned after the match. “However it’s solely going to get more durable from right here. I’m simply thrilled to be by means of to the fourth spherical. I’m feeling fairly good. I’m excited to go one other match. Hopefully on one of many huge courts.”

Her good pal and frequent opponent Serena Williams was on-site as a spectator on Saturday afternoon, however she was in Louis Armstrong Stadium, not the Grandstand.

“I’m gonna textual content her,” Wozniacki mentioned, laughing. “I’m fairly mad at her for not displaying up for my match. I noticed she was watching Tommy [Paul].”