Americans Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe and Sloane Stephens Advance at US Open; Former Finalist Caroline Wozniacki Loses
(August 30, 2017) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Venus Williams is into the third round for the seventh straight major tournament as she defeated France’s Ocean Dodin 7-5, 6-4 at the US Open in the first match of the night session. The 37-year-old American a two-time winner of the US Open
“I played two big servers in both rounds. When you get your opportunities, you do have to close on them, then sometimes they don’t come back, so…
“Today by the stats the match was super clean. Obviously there was an opportunity there to get a 2-2 match perhaps. But, you know, I feel like each round is a time to improve.”
No. 20 seed CoCo Vandeweghe who beat countrywoman Alison Riske 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, says that Maria Sharapova should not have received a wildcard into the US Open.
“Wild cards are appointed by the USTA,” said Vandeweghe. “I can’t say I agree. I wish it was an American instead, selfishly, because it is a USA tournament. I know from receiving a wild card here, it can be a huge platform to kind of progress through maybe a developing junior or someone that’s coming back from injury or, you know, just somebody that’s on the cusp, next American out that has an opportunity to kind of help their own ranking.
“Selfishly, I would have wished it was an American.”
Due her time off the tour due to a suspension for a doping violation, Sharapova’s ranking fell below the cut-off for the main draw. She won the US Open in 2006 and the USTA gave her a wildcard into the event.
Sloane Stephens is on a roll since returning to the tour since injury sidelined her for almost a year. Stephens upset 2014 Australian Open Finalist and 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the third round.
Two-time finalist and No. 5 seed Caroline Wozniacki is out. She lost to Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-7(5) 6-1. The Dame was one of eight women in contention for No. 1 after the tournament.
Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza is in the third round. She beat Duan Yingying 6-4, 6-0 to reach the last 32.
“The first set was very equal. It took me a while. You know, she was hitting such a powerful shot. She’s very tall. She hits the ball very strong. It took me a little bit to be able to feel her ball.
“I’m happy I turn it around. It was a few points difference in the first set, and it could go both ways. But I fighted there. After I felt much better. I adapt more to the match for the second set.”
As to become No. 1, the Spaniard said: “All I want is to win matches, and the ranking sooner or later will come. I try to focus on more winning matches here and try to go forward rather than the ranking because is the first step, to win matches, getting far in tournament, and we see after.”
