Photo : Camera Work USA
Bianca Andreescu’s perfect record at the US Open came to an end early Tuesday morning as she bowed out in the fourth round at the hands of Maria Sakkari.
The pair battled for 3:30 under the lights on Arthur Ashe, finishing at 2:14 AM local time, the latest ever finish for a women’s match at the US Open, after a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3 Sakkari victory.
Much like their battle in Miami earlier this year, there was very little between the two women as they exchanged body blows for three high-quality sets.
After splitting tiebreaks, Andreescu’s body began to break down and Sakkari took advantage, breaking midway through the final set as her opponent struggled to move.
The power of both women was on full display in this match, as they combined for 85 winners, 46 for Sakkari, 39 for Andreescu, although the Canadian had more errors (41) than winners. The Greek also overcame nine double faults, in the end winning just two more total points than her opponent.
A slow start on serve from Sakkari, who double faulted three times in her first service game, quickly gave Andreescu an edge as the Canadian raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but a series of shots into the net allowed the Greek to break back in the seventh game.
Andreescu had a chance to break for the set at 6-5, but fired a forehand into the net on set point. Undeterred, she grabbed an early lead in the tiebreak courtesy of another Sakkari double fault and never looked back, taking the breaker 7-2.
A run of four straight breaks of serve early in the second set failed to give either woman a decisive advantage and another tiebreak was needed.
The returners dominated early with the seven of the first eight points going against the server. Despite letting a 6-3 lead slip away, Sakkari was able to induce an error from Andreescu on her fourth set point to send the match to a deciding set having already been on court for two and a half hours.
It was the Canadian jumping out to the quick 2-0 lead in the final set, only for Sakkari to immediately break back and level.
Midway through the set, Andreescu took a medical time out and looked to be in pain as play resumed, struggling to move with her thigh heavily taped. The Greek took advantage, breaking in the seventh game with a backhand passing shot winner.
The Canadian did not win a game after the medical time out, losing four in a row and was broken again in the ninth game to send Sakkari into the quarter-finals.
Andreescu is now 10-1 in her career at the US Open, having won the title in her only previous appearance in 2019. Leylah Fernandez is now the last Canadian woman standing in the singles draw and will play Elina Svitolina on Wednesday.
