US Open: Swiatek fails in the quarterfinals

Swiatek thus missed the chance to win her sixth major title. The 23-year-olds started weakly and quickly fell behind 0:4. After just 37 minutes, Pegula had won the first set. In the second set, Swiatek also made repeated minor errors, especially with her forehand. After the break to make it 3:4, she angrily hit the net with her racket. The final push came too late; the Pole made a total of 41 unforced errors.

“I’ve finally made it and can finally say: semi-finalist,” said a delighted Pegula, who had previously lost six times in the quarter-finals of the four major tournaments. The New Yorker will now face Muchova, who defeated the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 6:1 6:4. The second semi-final match will be between world number two Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and the American Emma Navarro. Last year, the American crowd favorite Coco Gauff won the title.

“A strange match”

The unseeded Muchova has not dropped a set in the tournament so far, just like her upcoming opponent. “She is so good, so talented. She has a lot of experience, so I have to play my best tennis,” said Pegula.

Muchova quickly went ahead 4-0 in the first set and did not let this advantage slip away. Both players struggled with difficulties at times in the quarterfinals. Muchova left the court several times. “It was a strange match. I had problems, but I’m not going to talk about it,” she said. “I went to the bathroom, but I had no other choice.”

So far, she has only reached a major final at the 2023 French Open. This season, the final in Palermo was a highlight, and her only WTA tournament victory to date was in Seoul in 2019.

Haddad also struggles with problems

When the score was 3:5 in the second set from her perspective, Haddad Maia was in tears and buried her face in a towel. She was treated and listened to with a stethoscope. A little later, Muchova prevailed.

“I feel OK,” said Haddad Maia afterwards. The past few days have been emotional. Sometimes there are things on and off the court that weigh on you. “But today it was my mistake.” “I couldn’t concentrate,” said the 28-year-old about her first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium: “That’s different.” She was the first Brazilian to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Maria Bueno in 1968.

Draper in the semifinals for the first time

In the men’s singles, Draper continued his strong run and is now surprisingly in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time. The 22-year-old Brit also beat the number ten seeded Australian Alex de Minaur 6:3 7:5 6:2 in New York. This means that Draper has not dropped a single set in the entire tournament.

The world number 25 now challenges the top seed Sinner from Italy, who defeated the former US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia 6:2 1:6 6:1 6:4. Dapers’ best Grand Slam result to date was last year when he reached the round of 16 at the US Open. The second semi-final match will be between the Americans Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz.

“It is …”

“It’s great. “Playing on the biggest court in the world for the first time is a dream for me,” said Draper at Arthur Ashe Stadium, modestly adding: “I played a solid match.”

In the previous matches at this US Open, Draper had always been the favorite, but now he gave the slightly higher-rated de Minaur no chance. In the last three direct duels, the Australian had prevailed in each case.

No previous winner left

Sinner confirmed his favorite status against Medvedev. The Russian, winner of 2021, was the last remaining former title winner to fail. After the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner had the best chance of winning his second major title. After being acquitted shortly before the tournament following two positive doping tests in the spring, he is also under special public scrutiny.

“It was very difficult, we’ve already played against each other in Australia and London,” said Sinner about the duel with Medvedev. “Everyone who managed the break first pulled away. I’m very happy.” Sinner won the final of this year’s Australian Open against Medvedev in five sets. The Russian also managed to get revenge in the Wimbledon quarterfinals over the entire distance.

US Open in New York

Ladies

Men