Lucas Pouille of France (left) shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain after their US Open Men’s Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in NY.
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Angelique Kerber won a battle of grand slam champions when the second seed powered her way into the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 win over Petra Kvitova. The two-time victor of the US Open (2010 and 2013) entered the 2016 US Open as one of the favorites to win the tournament. While No.2 seed Angelique Kerber proved to be too strong for Petra Kvitova, seeded 14, with the German winning 6-3, 7-5, two unseeded players – Caroline Wozniacki and Anastasija Sevastova – continued their journey in NY.
It was not a day to remember for India’s Sania Mirza, after the best women’s doubles player in the world saw her mixed doubles challenge come to an end when she and her partner Ivan Dodig, the No.1 seeds, were beaten by the unseeded Barbora Krejcikova and Marin Draganja 6-3, 6-4. “That’s a positive thing”, Nadal told reporters Sunday night after his shocking loss in the fourth round of the US Open. He has now failed to make it beyond the fourth round of a major since the 2015 French Open, his last victory in a grand slam final came in 2014 at Roland Garros.
It understandably had an effect on Pouille, who appeared to be running on empty, and Monfils took full advantage as he completed a straight sets victory in two hours and two minutes.
At last year’s U.S. Open, Vinci stunned Williams in the semifinals, ending the American’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam.
Pouille’s ascension has been of the conventional up-and-coming variety.
Nadal is the highest men’s seed to be eliminated so far and ends what was a disappointing major year for him, beginning with his first-round exit in the Australian Open at the hands of Fernando Verdasco.
Monfils’ familiarity with Pouille helped him in the quarters. First and foremost let me say this: this encounter is exactly why we love this game and the fact that on paper, it was not even meant to happen. Jo-Willy is able to return this heavy forehand, and then chases down the angled drop volley to help him take the opening set 6-3.
“I guess everything was fine today”, the two-time NY semi-finalist said. “It’s going to be interesting”.
Gael Monfils is pleased with his form but insists he is still getting better after reaching the US Open semi-finals.
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Djokovic will now face Tsonga – who got up 6-3 6-3 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 over Sock – for a spot in the semi-finals as he looks to win a 13th grand-slam title. The Frenchman has never won an ATP tournament but has shown flashes of brilliance – including a quarter-final berth at Wimbledon. “I didn’t like it actually, so it was OK without picture”. My mom has cooked. “Usually I have to do all that myself”.
