US Open: Birthday Girl Sends Sharapova Packing
Former US Open champion Maria Sharapova has been knocked out of this year’s edition by Spanish birthday girl Carla Suarez Navarro.
The Spaniard won 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.
“Maria has played here at night many times so I knew I needed to be aggressive, focussed and play solid,” said the 30th seeded Spaniard Suarez Navarro.
“I told myself to run and fight — that’s the way I can play really good tennis.”
She will face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals.
“Madison is from the United States so I guess all the crowd will be for her,” the Spaniard added.
“I have played her a few times. She has a great serve and plenty of experience on this court.”
Sharapova, who won the last of her five Slams at Roland Garros in 2014, has endured a disappointing return to the majors since the end of her drugs ban in April of 2017.
