MARIA SHARAPOVA’S GRAND SLAM comeback after a 15-month doping ban ended in defeat Sunday at the US Open, as did the dream run of Canadian 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov.
Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova rallied to eliminate former world number one Sharapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 and book a quarter-final berth against American Sloane Stephens, who ousted Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Sharapova, whose five Grand Slam titles include the 2006 US Open, made 51 unforced errors to only 14 by Sevastova, whose 21 winners were half the 30-year-old Russian star’s total at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“She played unbelievable throughout the first and second set and I just kept fighting, running for every ball,” Sevastova said. “The third set could have gone either way.”
Sevastova matched her best Slam run from last year’s US Open while 146th-ranked Sharapova served notice her game remains formidable, having defeated second-ranked Simona Halep in her dramatic opener on the New York hardcourts.
Sharapova tested positive for the banned blood booster meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and only returned from her suspension in April.
- © AFP 2017
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Away from home, weakened 15, SF wrapped up & against a very emotionally charged Ulster side. I’m not overly worried with the result.
@4OYards: it’s not the result that worries me it was the performance or lack of it that concerns me.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Leinster’s performances this season have been for th the most part really high, last blip was the week before Wasps and we all know how that came out. Missing a third of a team against a full strength Ulster who were highly motivated I thought we weren’t that bad, just lacking a finishing touch. Just need to regroup and get them in the right mindset for the semi final.
@Dave Lawlor: It wasn’t a full strength Ulster. Iain Henderson, Jared Payne and Rory Best were all being rested for the Lions.
@Dave Lawlor: and Olding, Herbst, Ludik, Coetzee, Bowe and Cave were injured.
@Bob Cummings: Only Coetzee and Herbst start from that list
I’m certain Conan will be a huge player for Ireland in the very near future. He’s immense for Leinster. Ireland’s biggest challenge is trying to work out a good balance between all the ridiculous ball carriers that we have that can play 6,7,8.
@Old Gordon: that task is going to be harder next season with jordi murphy and heaslip coming back. Great players (internationals) are going to be on the bench.