NEW YORK — Maria Sharapova was bounced out of the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday — and all her haters will surely be pleased.
Playing in her first Grand Slam tournament following a 15-month doping ban, Sharapova lost to No. 16 Anastasija Sevastova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in 2 hours, 17 minutes.
“It’s been a really great ride in the last week,” Sharapova said. “Obviously coming off a loss, you know, it’s a quick turnaround in order to reflect all the positives that happened in the last eight or nine days.
“But ultimately I can take a lot from this week. It’s great to get that major out of the way. It was an incredible opportunity. I’m very thankful for the opportunity. I did my best. I can be proud of that.”
While Sharapova will move forward trying to rebuild her career by playing the Asian circuit, Sevastova will face unseeded American Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Stephens is one of five American women to reach at least the fourth round, including herself and Venus Williams in the quarters.
? : Match point, Anastasija Sevastova.? #USOpen @jpmorgan pic.twitter.com/bdwusE3Bxc
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2017
“She had a great summer, she’s playing so well on hardcourts in America,” Sevastova said of Stephens. “I hope it’s gonna be on Ashe and I hope we’re gonna put on a show.”
Sevastova wore Sharapova down with her consistent physical play from the baseline. Sharapova netted 51 unforced errors in the match against 42 winners.
“I think she played unbelievable throughout the first and second set,” Sevastova said. “I just kept fighting, just stayed there.”
Sharapova has had her share of haters both while serving her suspension and since she’s come back, with Canadian Genie Bouchard and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark among those making comments.
While Wozniacki played on Court 5 for her third-round match, she questioned why Sharapova continually got to play in the main stadium while she was relegated to an outer court.
“I think putting out a schedule where the No. 5 in the world in playing on Court 5, fifth match on after 11 [p.m.], I think that is unacceptable,” Wozniacki said after the match, which she lost to Makarova 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 after two hours and 20 minutes. “When you look at center court, I understand completely the business side of things and everything, but someone who comes back from a drug sentence, and you know, performance enhancing drugs, and then all of the sudden gets to play every single match on center court, I think that’s a questionable thing to do.”
Sharapova quickly responded when told of the comments.
“I’m a pretty big competitor,” she said. “If you put me out in the parking lot of Queens in New York City, I’m happy to play there.
‘That’s not what matters to me. All that matters to me is I’m in the fourth round. Yeah, I’m not sure where she is…’
Now Sharapova, like Wozniacki, is also out of the US Open.
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