Peng Shuai Upsets Agnieszka Radwanska On Day 3 Of US Open 2014; Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep Advance

PENG Shuai (click to enlarge)

Coming into their second round clash at the 2014 US Open, Agnieszka Radwanska held a 3-1 head to head advantage over PENG Shuai. But that one loss came in the second round of the 2010 US Open. Lightning struck again for Peng Shuai as she upset Aga for a second time in Flushing Meadow, 6-3 6-4. It was another US Open early exit for the #4 seed. Radwanska has never advanced past the 4th round in the final Major of the year. In fact, this is her 5th 2nd round departure. But to be fair to Aga, this time she really didn’t play poorly. Peng Shuai was just a little better on the big points. All due credit rightly goes to Peng, who is a former #1 in doubles and still currently ranked #3 in doubles.

Maria Sharapova (click to enlarge)

With 4th seed Radwanska bowing out, it looked early on like 5th seed Maria Sharapova might follow her through the exit. 9 double faults. 46 unforced errors. It was one part skill and bigger part will that allowed Masha to squeak by Alexandra Dulgheru, 4-6 6-3 6-2. Don’t be fooled by the relatively easy looking final two set scores. Sharapova did almost everything in her power to keep Dulgheru in the match. But that’s the brilliance of Masha. Her will to fight through tough matches, to grind when she has to, is at the top of the sport. Unless she’s injured, she will fight tooth and nail to the last point in a way few others will. Simona Halep has experienced that Sharapova tenacity three times already this year. If they both keep winning, they would meet in a highly anticipated quarterfinal. Simona kept up her winning ways with a 2 and 1 victory over Jana Cepelova. What might stand in the way of that dream quarterfinal is Sabine Lisicki. The big serving German is next up for Sharapova. Masha is 5-1 head to head with Sabine, but if the Russian superstar commits 46 unforced errors or anything in that neighborhood, she’ll be in big trouble against Lisicki.