Bacsinszky won their only meeting in the first round of the U.S. Open two years ago, but that match ended with Bertens retiring in the second set.
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Serena sees similarities in competitive spirit with quarterfinal opponent Yulia Putintseva, who surprised 12th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro, 7-5, 7-5, to advance to her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Earlier, World No.1 Novak Djokovic became the first player to smash the $100 million prize money barrier when he reached the quarterfinals with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 victory over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
The world No. 1 and defending champion here showed no rust having not played since Saturday because of persistent rain in Paris, the top seed sweeping aside No. 18-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-1 in 62 minutes.
Venus Williams will not be joining her sister in the quarter-finals after going down to Timea Bacsinszky, who beat the veteran American 6-2, 6-4.
Describing herself as “a chameleon” who can adapt to “every type of court” she will next face Kiki Bertens after the Dutch outsider downed American 15th seed Madison Keys 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Her progress through the Olympic draw was regal, the American player seeing off Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the last 32 and Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the last 16 before beating Russia’s Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals, all without dropping a single set. Even if she’s struggling with health issues she’s there, she’s super nice with everyone, she’s kind, and she’s a great tennis player for so many years.
Her victory prevented Williams from reaching her fifth quarter-final in Paris and first since 2006. “I think she was serving well at the right moment and really moving the ball around the court, which for me was a little bit unexpected”.
“I think he’s been an unbelievable player for many, many years”, Wawrinka said of Murray. Williams is scheduled to play talented Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the fourth round on Tuesday.
Serena had an 8-0 edge in aces, a 27-10 advantage in total winners, forced Svitolina into 22 mistakes, and saved seven of eight break points. “In Rome I played four in a row?” She managed to produce only six winners in all, while committing 24 unforced errors.
This comes after the Williams sisters were also eliminated from doubles competition, leaving Serena as the only one remaining in the tournament. Williams got so desperate at one point that she shifted her racket to her left hand to try a shot that way – and whiffed.
The world number 58, conqueror of Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the first round, has now won 11 straight matches after arriving in Paris fresh from lifting the Nuremberg clay-court title as a qualifier.
The forecast indicates there could be more disruption from the weather over the next two or three days, and Williams said she would draw the line at playing two matches in one day. “The most disappointing part is just not playing well, and that’s disappointing”, Venus said. Timea Bacsinszky bounced ninth-seeded Venus Williams from the field.
Former US Open champion Stosur matched her best run at a Grand Slam since reaching the last four in Paris in 2012.
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Rain has wreaked havoc with the schedule.
