Kerber sets up Kvitova clash

Britain's Johanna Konta reached the US Open round of 16 with no fuss.

Published : Sep 03, 2016 02:40 IST , New York

Angelique Kerber was destructive in her third round match against 17-year-old American CiCi Bellis.
Angelique Kerber was destructive in her third round match against 17-year-old American CiCi Bellis.
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Angelique Kerber was destructive in her third round match against 17-year-old American CiCi Bellis.

German second seed Angelique Kerber reached the US Open fourth round on Friday with a 6-1 6-1 win over American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis.

Australian Open champion Kerber will face two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova for a place in the quarter-finals.

>RESULTS

Two days after collapsing in the New York heat en route to a three-set second-round victory, Britain's Johanna Konta reached the round of 16 with no fuss.

The 13th-seeded Briton, who broke through for her first WTA title in Stanford in July, overwhelmed 24th-seeded Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

Madison Keys mounted an epic final set comeback to give the hosts a boost at US Open on Friday.

Eighth-seeded Keys won the latest-ever finishing women's match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1:48am.

On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Japan's Naomi Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

The 18-year-old Osaka was reduced to tears as she twice served for the match but choked under the immense pressure.

"This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down," said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarterfinal spot.

Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.

The Dane's 6-3, 6-1 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which featured eight breaks of serve, was another noise-affected affair.

But instead of a din caused by chattering fans or rain on the roof, this time it concerned Wozniacki complaining that her opponent was making too much noise every time she employed her bizarre forehand slice.

"It's fun but also frustrating," said 2009 and 2014 runner-up Wozniacki of her opponent's unusual style.

Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.

But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine for a quarterfinal place.

Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a Slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko, with her right knee heavily strapped, committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, newly-married Cibulkova hit 54.

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