In the beginning, in tennis, normally you are used to playing in silence.
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The time of Pavlyuchenkova’s victory was the same as for a loss by Venus Williams loss at Flushing Meadows in 2013, and also for a win by Caroline Wozniacki in 2011.
The seventh-seeded Italian needed almost two hours to top 102nd-ranked Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in the third round Friday.
Up next for Kvitova is Ukrainian 22nd seed Elina Svitolina who put out Lauren Davis of the United States 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Konta won the first set 6-2 and was up a break in the second, which the 71st-ranked Pironkova went on to win 7-5.
The Spaniard won the game in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic got another free pass at the U.S. Open, advancing when his third-round opponent, Mikhail Youzhny, stopped because of injury after only six games. He had seven double-faults.
Kvitova was in her trademark all-or-nothing mood, mixing up 31 winners with 30 unforced errors against her 26-year-old opponent, the first Turkish woman to play in the main draw at the tournament.
Among various other fines announced by the tournament Thursday were $3,000 apiece for Fabio Fognini of Italy and Steve Johnson of the U.S.
“I’m sure if the feedback is that the TV or the spectators aren’t enjoying the match as much”, Murray said, “then they will look into it and try and change it”. Johnson was fined under the category of “abuse of rackets and equipment”.
Rafa Nadal, with his troublesome left wrist improving every day, will be eyeing more progress at the U.S. Open on Friday when he bids for a place in the last 16. “For me it is impossible now to think about these kind of things”.
The 20th-seeded Isner beat Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-3 in 2 hours, 54 minutes Wednesday. Vinci needed just 22 minutes to win the first set.
Nadal hit the first practice and match ball under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.
The increased sound is already presenting a problem to star players, with Andy Murray noting during a recent press conference, “When the rain came it was certainly loud”. It’s his first appearance in a U.S. Open fourth round and the first fourth round at any major since 2009.
Leslie Leith-Tedeschi, a Manhattanite who has been coming to the matches for years, said the buzz is mostly people’s conversations.
During second-round action on Thursday, the $150 million roof was closed as rain fell outside.
The 2015 U.S. Open runner-up, Roberta Vinci, cruised into the third round for the sixth straight year.
The only use of the roof until Nadal’s match came when it was shut at the start of the tournament’s opening ceremony Monday night, then opened as Phil Collins sang “In the Air Tonight”.
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“For moments was little bit too much during the points”. She added later that it was nice to not need to wait out a rain delay.
