Aryna Sabalenka, 6th in the world and semi-finalist of the event last year, and Karolina Pliskova (22nd), finalist in 2016, will face each other in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Aryna Sabalenka, 6th in the world and semi-finalist of the event last year, and Karolina Pliskova (22nd), finalist in 2016, will face each other in the quarter-finals of the US Open. The 24-year-old Belarusian, in search of a first title this season, beat 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 the American Danielle Collins (19th), who had notably reached the final at the Open Australia at the start of the year.
As in 2018 in the 1st round of the New York Major and last year in the 3rd, Sabalenka confirmed his dominance over Collins, with this fourth success in as many confrontations. A match notably enamelled with double faults (20 in total, 12 for the American), which was off to a bad start when, leading a set to zero, she had to have a painful leg treated. But Belarus then found the resources to turn the situation around.
She will face Pliskova, who fought hard to dismiss Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (26th) 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2. The 30-year-old Czech reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the fifth time. As often when they face each other, Pliskova and Azarenka, tied for four wins everywhere before this round of 16, played a very close match. But the Czech was more often aggressive (53 winning shots against 46) and rewarded after three hours of intense struggle, on her fourth match point. “Victoria is a great player, very dangerous. The match was very tight, the points very long. It really wasn’t easy“commented hot Pliskova.
