Sports Narrator Andy Taylor | The Voice of the US Open | US Open
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[22] Maria Sharapova -22- (RUS) def Sorana Cirstea -51- (ROU) | 62 75
Tonight, 2006 US Open Champion Maria Sharapova won her 20th night match in Arthur Ashe Stadium. In fact, the 5-time Major champion is undefeated during night sessions on this court. Bright lights. Flash bulbs. Big City. Partison Crowds. Some thrive on the pressure. It’s more than craving the spotlight.
That said, Thursday night’s prime time clash with Cirstea was an error-fest from both. Coming off a grueling 2-hour, deciding-set victory over Alison Riske on Tuesday, Sorana struggled to find her legs.
Maria broke early, then again to capture set-1. In the second, the tables turned. Sorana broke twice and gave herself a chance to serve for the set. But the intensity and pressure is exactly what Sharapova needed to overcome, win three straight games, and earn another night-win in Flushing.
NEXT: [22] Maria Sharapova -22- (RUS) vs. [10] Jelena Ostapenko -10- (LAT)
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R2: def Sorana Cirstea -51- (ROU) 62 75 | Arthur Ashe Stadium
[vector_icon icon=”fas-fa check”] R1: def Patty Schnyder -183- (SUI) 62 76(6) | Louis Armstrong Stadium
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[22] Maria Sharapova -22- (RUS)
This 5-time Grand Slam Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist won her 2nd Major right here in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2006 US Open. With two French Open titles, and victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, she is one of only five active players who own the Career Grand Slam. She’s a Fed Cup Champion, won the WTA Finals in her 2004 debut, and has spent 21-weeks as the sport’s top-ranked player. Between 2003 and 2015, she won at least one singles title every year for 12 consecutive years, and now owns 36 WTA Singles title overall. Competing in her 12th US Open, from Russia – Please welcome 2006 Champion…Maria Sharapova.
Sorana Cirstea -51- (ROU)
A 3-time Finalist on Tour, she owns one WTA Singles title and has been ranked as high as #21 in the World. A Quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 2009 – Last year, she reached the Round of 16 at the Australian Open for the first time, was a Semifinalist in Nürnberg, and earned her 15th career win over a top-10 opponent, defeating Karolina Pliskova at the China Open. A member of her country’s Olympic and Fed Cup Teams, earlier this year she helped lift her country back in the Fed Cup World Group for 2019. Competing in her 10th US Open, from Romania – Please welcome…Sorana Cirstea.
