Carla Suarez Navarro on Monday night managed to do what no other player has ever done – defeat Maria Sharapova in a night match at the US Open.
The Spaniard celebrated her 30th birthday in stunning style with a 6-3 6-4 win over the Russian, who had won the pair’s last three meetings.
Suárez Navarro: “Was a really good present for me. I was playing also last year same day against Venus Williams, and I lost. This time I don't want to feel like last year. I want to have a happy birthday, and I have it (smiling).” #USOpen
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 4, 2018
Sharapova was until that point a flawless 23-0 in night matches at Flushing Meadows.
The victory sends Suarez Navarro through to her seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal and second at the US Open, where she will face Madison Keys.
NEWS: Emotional Osaka into US Open quarterfinals
It marks the first time in her career that she has reached two major quarterfinals in a single season; she also did so at the Australian Open.
Much had been made of Sharapova’s schedule this year in New York.
The former world No.1 played all four of her matches under lights, and apart from her straight-sets take down of 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the last 32, she looked unconvincing all week.
Suarez Navarro exposed that shakiness, varying her shots and retrieving tirelessly to constantly put Sharapova in awkward positions.
Q: Can we say this is the most challenging period of your career?
Sharapova's answer: pic.twitter.com/Gq74qlabap
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 4, 2018
The Spaniard’s aggressive instincts – not always a notable feature of her game – were also impressive; she frequently looked to dictate play with her heavy forehand.
“It’s the first time I play this year (at) night. I know that Maria played every day here. For me it’s totally different, so I’m really happy because I really play a really good match. I really enjoy this crowd and this amazing night session,” Suarez Navarro said on court.
Sharapova couldn’t hit through Suarez Navarro and never looked like she had faith in her strokes, misfiring an astonishing 38 times, including eight double faults.
Both players finished with 15 winners, yet Sharapova’s unforced error tally was almost double that of Suarez Navarro’s.
Sharapova has now been back on tour for longer than she was banned and 6 slams have passed. For me, her 'comeback' has been quite disastrous. Both body and game falling apart.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 4, 2018
Suarez Navarro built an early 4-1 lead but when up 5-2 the wheels almost fell off; Sharapova tightened the scoreboard to 5-4 and led 0-30 in the 10th game.
Yet four straight errors handed Suarez Navarro the set.
With Suarez Navarro serving at 4-3, 30-30, the next two points encapsulated the match. Sharapova lifted up on a backhand return – normally one of her strongest shots – to send the ball well long, before Suarez Navarro produced a telling 1-2 punch, belting a serve out wide and moving ahead 5-3 with a forehand winner up the line.
“I need to be aggressive, I’m working on that. Try to be solid, try to be all the time focused, fighting every time and I think this is the way that I can play really good tennis,” she said.
The match was hers one game later.
9 January 2018
As the first Grand Slam of the season fast approaches, top-10 players are leading the char... More
19 February 2016
Roberta Vinci appeared on Italian TV and was put to the test - were the grunts she was hea... More
22 September 2017
In the heat and humidity of the recent US Open series, there was a slow-mo nod to a long-r... More
7 November 2016
Double Wimbledon champion, double Olympic champion and now world No.1. But what doesn't An... More