Sakkari latest seed to fall at US Open as Wang reaches third round

Xiyu Wang’s amazing year continued as she edged out Greece’s Maria Sakkari, the No 3 seed, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 to move into the third round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Wednesday.

In an epic encounter lasting two hours and 43 minutes, the Chinese star continued her incredible recent form; she has now won 14 of her last 21 matches.

“Before the match, I knew she’s a really good player,” Wang said in her on-court interview. “I just tried my best to stay variable and play my best and try to learn more from this match. I’m really happy.”

She added: “I’m very excited, and I want to keep the same attitude, stay calm and try my best – keep fighting for every point.”

New ground for Wang

Wang had lost her two previous encounters with opponents ranked in the top 10 – and has never before been beyond the second round at a Slam.

Sakkari, on the other hand, has lost four times to players ranked outside the Top 50 so far this season alone – including at two of the previous three Slams.

Wang, ranked No 75, will face the winner of the match between American Alison Riske-Amritraj, the No 29 seed, and Colombian Camila Osorio next.

The 21-year-old Chinese beat Frenchwoman Diane Parry (5-7, 6-3, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous round of Flushing Meadows, Sakkari, ranked No 3, won against German Tatjana Maria (6-4, 3-6, 6-0).

US Open, other second-round results:

• Ons Jabeur (5) beat Elizabeth Mandlik (WC): 7-5, 6-2
• Shelby Rogers (31) beat Viktoria Kuzmova (Q): 7-5, 6-1

You might also like this

Sakkari overcomes second-set wobble against Maria to book spot in second round

tennis majors

US Open: Zhang advances to second round, eliminating No 30 seed Teichmann

tennis majors

US Open: Qualifier Wu makes history for Chinese tennis, smashes 31st seed Basilashvili

tennis majors