Sports
Sporting a leather-collared black dress encrusted with crystal, Sharapova made a rock star entrance on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to close the night session.
Updated : Sep 02, 2017, 11:25 AM IST
Maria Sharapova's mix of grit and power were enough to see off American teenager Sofia Kenin 7-5 6-2 in the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday.
Sharapova, who made her competitive comeback in April after a 15-month ban following a positive test for meldonium, battled through the first two rounds and it seemed that she would also struggle against the 18-year-old Kenin.
Hitting winners and unforced errors in almost equal measure in the opening set, the former world number one however, dug deep to take the advantage.
Kenin's tank was empty in the second set and Sharapova, who next faces Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova, opened up a 3-0 lead and ended the contest on the first match point when the American sent a backhand wide.
"We had never faced each other and she came out having nothing to lose and it's always dangerous so I'm happy I went through," said Sharapova, who won her only U.S. Open title in 2006. Sporting a leather-collared black dress encrusted with crystal, Sharapova made a rock star entrance on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to close the night session.
However, she made nine unforced errors in the first three games, which continued throughout the first set but she broke in the 12th game when Kenin could not retrieve a powerful flat forehand and she then raced through the second set. It was a relief for Sharapova after she had to endure two three-set matches to reach the third round.
"Coming into this match playing two three-setters, I'm just happy I got it done in two. Give my body a little bit of a break," she said. "I took a day off yesterday just as a prevention. I did not see the ball too well at the beginning of the match, I wasn't getting the shots that I wanted ... but got better as the match went on."
Night time on Arthur Ashe...
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
#USOpen pic.twitter.com/zPUxleOhZq
1st set on Arthur Ashe Stadium:@MariaSharapova has the early break on Kenin with some big groundstrokes and a nice drop shot.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/NI0bMovZp3
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
After a 1 hour and 7 min battle, @MariaSharapova takes the first set vs Kenin, 7-5. #USOpen @jpmorgan pic.twitter.com/nz2eT8aue1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
Sharapova closes out the first set under the lights.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/nIP5stGiu2
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
POINT OF THE MATCH:
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
Outrageous rally between @MariaSharapova and Sofia Kenin.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/3R9ZmWNxN6
Night 5 ends with @MariaSharapova closing out Kenin 7-5, 6-2 in a tricky R3 match on Arthur Ashe Stadium! #USOpen @MBUSA pic.twitter.com/GIUdSVTPKT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
"I just keep enjoying it here more and more."@MariaSharapova moves into R4 and will face Sevastova next.https://t.co/s9mt8gHVF6 pic.twitter.com/R6cn6WnEbG
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2017
(Inputs from Reuters)