Retired Sevastova into US Open quarterfinals

Elsewhere, Anastasija Sevastova, who quit tennis because of injury in 2013, became the first Latvian woman to reach the quarterfinals since 1994 when she beat Britain’s 13th seed Johanna Konta 6-4, 7-5.

The British No 1 was unable to find her rhythm and range in hard conditions as sunshine cast a shadow across the Arthur Ashe court that caused both players a host of problems.

“I did some studying, played with kids in tennis, gave some lessons”. Sevastova rebounded though and was able to take the next two games to advance to the last eight. “My opponent played I think an overall more solid match than I did”, added Konta. “Because if I’m not in the top five, I feel like it’s not where I want to be, so at that point, whether I’m 20 in the world or 100 in the world, it doesn’t matter because I’m going to play the same people anyway”.

Sevastova had not won a match in NY since 2010 before this year and with her career unravelling she quit in May 2013 to study leisure management instead. Vinci has never reached the quarters at any of the other three Grand Slams, but she’s now done it four times at Flushing Meadows.

It is always easier, however to break for the borders and third time was the charm as Sevastova broke for a place in the US Open quarter-finals.

Australian Open champion Kerber defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova as she looks to improve on her best showing in NY of a semi-final spot in 2011.

Underwhelmed, however, by a college course in management, she returned in January 2015, initially at a lower level, and this year in the grand slams.

It is, no doubt a disappointment that she will not be joining Andy Murray in the second week, but on balance, with the Asian swing to come there will be more chances to try and push for a place in the Top 10 and finish the year on a charge. The Australian Open champ had only eight winners, but that was just fine in light of Kvitova’s 43 unforced errors.

Angelique Kerber’s bid for world number one remains on track, as Caroline Wozniacki joined her in the US Open quarter-finals.

“I was crying [after the match] because it was a great match today and I had some physical problems and I fight a lot and the important thing was to win”, she said. “I didn’t expect to be here at this point of my life after retiring, so I don’t know what to say really”.

“I think she did a good job at neutralizing, myself”. I still can not believe it.

Next up for Vinci is the victor between second-seeded Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and 14th-seeded twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.