The world number 1 – who will no longer be at the end of the tournament – fell from above, on the night of Sunday to Monday, in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows.
We thought she was irresistible. Iga Swiatek, impressive since entering the running at this US Open 2023, did however fall in the round of 16, on the night of Sunday September 3 to Monday September 4. The 22-year-old Polish defending champion suffered the law of Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (3-6, 6-3, 6-1), one of her worst opponents on the circuit (four defeats in as many matches ). The world number 1 will give up her place at the top of the WTA rankings in favor of Aryna Sabalenka at the end of the tournament.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic did not tremble against Croatian Borna Gojo (6-2, 7-5, 6-4) and will once again be present in the quarter-finals in New York. At 20, Ben Shelton also qualified for the second time in his career for the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam (Australian Open 2023) by dominating Tommy Paul (6-4, 6-3, 4-6 , 6-4). He will find another American, Frances Tiafos (10th), for a place in the semi-finals.
The thunderclap: Iga Swiatek released from the 8th by his pet peeve
No player on the tour has beaten Iga Swiatek four times. None, except one now: Jelena Ostapenko. Victorious – what is more – of their four confrontations, the 26-year-old Latvian, a veritable pet peeve of the Pole, achieved a feat in New York by once again taking over the world number one (3-6, 6- 3, 6-1). “I knew it would be difficult, but I also knew I had to play my game and be aggressive because she doesn’t like it”she commented after the meeting.
“Usually when I play badly, I play badly at first, then I make up for it or fix the problems”advanced for its part the Polish in a press conference. “This time it was quite the opposite. I don’t really know what happened with my game. Usually I can feel what I’m doing wrong. This time my mistakes were so huge that I had no idea why I couldn’t return.”
Defending champion Iga Swiatek, who was aiming for a fifth Grand Slam title, will give up her place at the top of women’s tennis to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after the tournament. Jelena Ostapenko, back at a very high level after winning Roland-Garros in 2017 and reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018, will have to get rid of Coco Gauff (6th) to join the last four of a Major again.
The favorite: Novak Djokovic at quarter time
Novak Djokovic continues his road to a 24th Grand Slam title. The Serb quietly eliminated the Croatian Borna Gojo, 105th in the ATP ranking and from qualifying, on the night of Sunday to Monday (6-2, 7-5, 6-4). “We had never faced each other on the main circuit, but I watched his games in qualifying and this week, and I could see that he was physical and that he hit hard. I had to neutralize his serve “analyzed the one who will become world number 1 again at the end of the tournament.
For his thirteenth quarter-final at Flushing Meadows, like Andre Agassi and Roger Federer (Ivan Lendl holds the record with 17 appearances), he will face the American Taylor Fritz (9th), winner of the Swiss surprise from qualifying Dominik Stricker (7 -6, 6-4, 6-4).
The locals: Ben Shelton joins Frances Tiafoe for an all-American duel
At 20, for his first full year on the ATP circuit, the young American hopeful Ben Shelton will be, for the second time in his career, in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament, after the Australian Open in last January. The 47th in the world beat his compatriot Tommy Paul (14th) in four sets (6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4). “I learned how to be mentally strong”, he explained after his victory. He said he now has “there it was” in his ability to win matches and go far in major tournaments.
For a place in the last four, he will be opposed to another American player, Frances Tiafoe (n°10), who made short work of the Australian Rinky Hijikata (110th in the world) 6-4, 6- 1, 6-4. The New York public had not seen two Americans in home quarters since 2011 (Andy Roddick and John Isner).
The results of the eighth (night from Sunday to Monday)
Men’s singles:
Frances Tiafoe (10th) beat Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-1, 6-4
Ben Shelton bat Tommy Paul (14e) 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Taylor Fritz (9e) bat Dominic Stricker 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4
Novak Djokovic (2e) beat Borna Gojo 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
Women’s singles:
Jelena Ostapenko (20th) beat Iga Swiatek (1st) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Cori Gauff (6e) bats Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Sorana Cirstea (30th) beat Belinda Bencic (15th) 6-3, 6-3
Karolína Muchová (10e) beat Wang Xinyu 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
