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| Riske Upsets No. 7 Kvitova in Day’s Lone Bright Spot for U.S. Players | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In her hotel room in Manhattan, Alison Riske has tucked away a small piece of tattered fabric, a remnant from a blanket that was given to her at the moment of her birth. | In her hotel room in Manhattan, Alison Riske has tucked away a small piece of tattered fabric, a remnant from a blanket that was given to her at the moment of her birth. |
| Through her travels around the globe as a junior and then a professional tennis player, Riske has taken the ever-diminishing blanket with her. | Through her travels around the globe as a junior and then a professional tennis player, Riske has taken the ever-diminishing blanket with her. |
| “It’s getting smaller by the week,” Riske said Saturday. “I can fit it in the palm of my hand.” | “It’s getting smaller by the week,” Riske said Saturday. “I can fit it in the palm of my hand.” |
| One day, perhaps, it will disintegrate altogether, but with Riske coming of age in the competitive world of international tennis, she may not need it much longer. On Saturday, she powered her way into the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time, upsetting seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-0, in 1 hour 5 minutes. | One day, perhaps, it will disintegrate altogether, but with Riske coming of age in the competitive world of international tennis, she may not need it much longer. On Saturday, she powered her way into the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time, upsetting seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-0, in 1 hour 5 minutes. |
| Riske was the only American player to win on a humid day at the United States Open. | Riske was the only American player to win on a humid day at the United States Open. |
| In the last pairing of the afternoon, John Isner lost his third-round match to Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5), in a rematch of their third-round meeting here last year. That one went five sets. | In the last pairing of the afternoon, John Isner lost his third-round match to Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5), in a rematch of their third-round meeting here last year. That one went five sets. |
| Isner, who reached 141 miles per hour with his fastest serve, could not overcome Kohlschreiber’s superior ground strokes. | Isner, who reached 141 miles per hour with his fastest serve, could not overcome Kohlschreiber’s superior ground strokes. |
| In the final set, the umpire descended from his chair to admonish two of Isner’s supporters sitting courtside. Isner said he did not notice the umpire, Damien Dumusois, go over to the fans during a break. | In the final set, the umpire descended from his chair to admonish two of Isner’s supporters sitting courtside. Isner said he did not notice the umpire, Damien Dumusois, go over to the fans during a break. |
| “I don’t know what was said or who said it, but if it affected Phillip in any way, I apologize,” Isner said. | “I don’t know what was said or who said it, but if it affected Phillip in any way, I apologize,” Isner said. |
| In between Riske’s victory and Isner’s loss, the Americans Christina McHale and Jack Sock were also eliminated. Riske joined No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 15 Sloane Stephens as the remaining Americans in the women’s draw. | In between Riske’s victory and Isner’s loss, the Americans Christina McHale and Jack Sock were also eliminated. Riske joined No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 15 Sloane Stephens as the remaining Americans in the women’s draw. |
| “It was really emotional for me,” said Riske, a 23-year-old from Pittsburgh. “It’s just really cool because I feel like I’m playing within myself. I’m not doing anything crazy. It just feels really comfortable.” | “It was really emotional for me,” said Riske, a 23-year-old from Pittsburgh. “It’s just really cool because I feel like I’m playing within myself. I’m not doing anything crazy. It just feels really comfortable.” |
| The No. 2 seed, Victoria Azarenka, did not feel quite as comfortable after losing the first set of her third-round match to No. 26 Alizé Cornet of France. But Azarenka stormed back to win, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2, overcoming one of Cornet’s best days serving the ball. | The No. 2 seed, Victoria Azarenka, did not feel quite as comfortable after losing the first set of her third-round match to No. 26 Alizé Cornet of France. But Azarenka stormed back to win, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2, overcoming one of Cornet’s best days serving the ball. |
| Azarenka, a United States Open finalist last year, will next play No. 13 Ana Ivanovic, who needed three sets to get past McHale. Ivanovic looked rattled and uncertain, making 51 unforced errors to McHale’s 28, but she prevailed, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. | Azarenka, a United States Open finalist last year, will next play No. 13 Ana Ivanovic, who needed three sets to get past McHale. Ivanovic looked rattled and uncertain, making 51 unforced errors to McHale’s 28, but she prevailed, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. |
| Playing for the third time in her career in Arthur Ashe Stadium, McHale, a 21-year-old from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., won the first set. She then broke Ivanovic at love in the first game of the second set as the crowd ramped up its support in anticipation of an upset. | Playing for the third time in her career in Arthur Ashe Stadium, McHale, a 21-year-old from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., won the first set. She then broke Ivanovic at love in the first game of the second set as the crowd ramped up its support in anticipation of an upset. |
| “The crowd was great, and I feel like I’m getting more comfortable on that court,” McHale said. | “The crowd was great, and I feel like I’m getting more comfortable on that court,” McHale said. |
| It appeared that McHale, like Riske, might be on her way to the fourth round of a major for the first time. But in the hard-fought second set, Ivanovic tightened her game and ended up breaking McHale six times. | It appeared that McHale, like Riske, might be on her way to the fourth round of a major for the first time. But in the hard-fought second set, Ivanovic tightened her game and ended up breaking McHale six times. |
| Next on Ashe was Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed, who made quick work of Ivan Dodig of Croatia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to a meeting with Kohlschreiber in the Round of 16. | Next on Ashe was Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed, who made quick work of Ivan Dodig of Croatia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to a meeting with Kohlschreiber in the Round of 16. |
| On Court 17, where Riske was looking to avenge a tight three-set loss to Kvitova at the New Haven Open on Aug. 21, it was almost as easy. But Kvitova was weakened by a virus and a fever the day before the match, and she received medical attention before the final game of the second set. | On Court 17, where Riske was looking to avenge a tight three-set loss to Kvitova at the New Haven Open on Aug. 21, it was almost as easy. But Kvitova was weakened by a virus and a fever the day before the match, and she received medical attention before the final game of the second set. |
| Kvitova struggled with her serve, getting only 52 percent of her first serves in and committing seven double faults. Riske converted 5 of 9 break-point opportunities. | Kvitova struggled with her serve, getting only 52 percent of her first serves in and committing seven double faults. Riske converted 5 of 9 break-point opportunities. |
| “My body wouldn’t let me fight,” Kvitova said. | “My body wouldn’t let me fight,” Kvitova said. |
| Perhaps the most dangerous threat on that side of the women’s draw is Simona Halep, a 21-year-old Romanian who continues to barrel through the summer season. On the hottest run of any player on the women’s tour, the 21st-seeded Halep was nearly flawless in crushing 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 6-0, in 51 minutes. | Perhaps the most dangerous threat on that side of the women’s draw is Simona Halep, a 21-year-old Romanian who continues to barrel through the summer season. On the hottest run of any player on the women’s tour, the 21st-seeded Halep was nearly flawless in crushing 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 6-0, in 51 minutes. |
| Halep has won four titles since June, including the New Haven Open. And she appears to be improving. | Halep has won four titles since June, including the New Haven Open. And she appears to be improving. |
| “It was the best match ever for me,” Halep said. “I played incredible today. No mistakes.” | “It was the best match ever for me,” Halep said. “I played incredible today. No mistakes.” |
| Sock, 20, could hardly say the same after he won the first set of his match against No. 18 Janko Tipsarevic, only to lose the next three. Tipsarevic, the 29-year-old Serb who was a quarterfinalist here the last two years, won, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1, 6-2. | Sock, 20, could hardly say the same after he won the first set of his match against No. 18 Janko Tipsarevic, only to lose the next three. Tipsarevic, the 29-year-old Serb who was a quarterfinalist here the last two years, won, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-1, 6-2. |
| Sock stalled in the third round for the second straight year. | Sock stalled in the third round for the second straight year. |
| “His experience showed a little bit,” Sock said, “and he stepped up his game when he had to.” | “His experience showed a little bit,” Sock said, “and he stepped up his game when he had to.” |