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Monday 4 SepteMber 2017

Sharapova’s Slam return ends; Venus to U. S. Open QFs

By HOWARD FENDRICH 2006 champion in Arthur
AP Tennis Writer Ashe Stadium every time
NEW YORK (AP) — Maybe she played over the past
this was just one three- week, drawing strong sup-
setter too many for Maria port from spectators — and
Sharapova. criticism from another for-
Sharapova tried a bit of ev- mer No. 1-ranked woman,
erything, even resorting to Caroline Wozniacki.
switching over her racket On Day 1 of the tourna-
to hit a few lefty shots. Still, ment, Sharapova won a
the five-time major cham- three-set thriller under the
pion could not quite keep lights against No. 2 seed Si-
her Grand Slam comeback mona Halep.
from a doping suspension “Just competing, you know,
going, losing in the fourth being in that competitive
round of the U.S. Open to environment — that’s what
16th-seeded Anastasija I missed,” Sharapova said.
Sevastova of Latvia 5-7, 6-4, “You can’t replicate that
6-2 on Sunday. anywhere, especially at a
“Look, three-set matches Grand Slam.
are challenging . I love be- So ... Monday night was a
ing part of them. There’s special night for me. I will
an element of concentra- always remember it.”
tion, focus, physicality that This time, Sevastova made
goes into all of it. And you Sharapova run a lot by
have to put it all together. pulling her forward with
Yeah, you just have to get drop shots or tight angles,
through it,” Sharapova then would often deposit
said. “There’s no doubt that follow-up strokes into open
not playing those matches spaces. On one point won
certainly cost me today. I by Sharapova in the sec-
did feel like I was thinking a ond set, she twice tracked
little bit too much and not down lobs that she got
playing by instinct.” back over the net by hitting
This was the third time in her the ball left-handed.
four matches that Sharapo- But she could not sustain
va went the distance enough strong play, and
and she faded down the Sevastova reached the U.S.
stretch, while also dealing Open quarterfinals for the
with a blister on her right second consecutive year.
hand that was treated and “I allowed the match to be-
taped by a trainer in the fi- come physical,” Sharapo-
nal set. Maria Sharapova, of Russia, serves to Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, during the fourth round of va said about the late-go-
Sharapova’s miscues kept the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, in New York. ing. “I don’t think I played
closing exchanges, and Associated Press as aggressive or was step-
she dropped 13 of the first very thankful for the oppor- were scheduled to face tour this April with a ranking ping in as much as I did in
14 points in that set. tunity.” each other Sunday night. too low to get into Grand the first set.”
The 30-year-old Russian fin- Sharapova’s exit leaves Ve- Muguruza beat Williams in Slam events. Sevastova will face un-
ished with 51 unforced er- nus Williams as the only past the Wimbledon final in July; The French Open denied seeded American Sloane
rors, compared to 14 for U.S. Open champion in the Kvitova owns two trophies her a wild-card invitation, Stephens, who reached
Sevastova. women’s field . The 37-year- from the All England Club. then she planned to try to her first quarterfinal in New
“It’s been a really great old Williams, who won the Sharapova hadn’t played qualify for Wimbledon be- York by eliminating No. 30
ride,” Sharapova said. title in 2000 and 2001, got to in a major tournament fore pulling out because of Julia Goerges 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
“Ultimately, I can take a lot the quarterfinals by beating since the Australian Open an injured left leg. Stephens has won 12 of
from this week,” she contin- Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, in January 2016, when she But she was able to enter her past 14 matches, a re-
ued. 3-6, 6-1. Next for Williams tested positive for the newly the U.S. Open thanks to markable run for someone
“It’s great to get that ma- will be a showdown against banned drug meldonium. a wild card from the U.S. who was off the tour for 11
jor out of the way. It was an No. 3 Garbine Muguruza or She served a 15-month ban Tennis Association, which months because of foot
incredible opportunity. I’m No. 13 Petra Kvitova, who for that, returning to the then proceeded to put its surgery in January.q