Radwanska knocked out of US Open

New York : Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia became the latest high profile victim at the US Open, losing 5-7, 4-6 to Karen Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the second round on Thursday.  She follows fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who lost to China’s Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-4. Earlier, French Open champion Maria Sharapova and Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka survived some shaky moments to book their third-round berths at the US Open.

 

Sharapova and Wawrinka were the day’s headliners as two-time defending women’s champion Serena Williams and the top men Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all had the day off.

Sharapova, who lifted her fifth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year, fought back from a set down in a gritty 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over 95th-ranked Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.Wawrinka, the third seed from Switzerland, turned back the challenge of Brazilian left-hander Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1) to become the first men’s seed into the third round.

 

Two-time winner Venus Williams, who hadn’t made it past the second round the past three years, reached the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Timea Bacsinszky.