Rogers, Brady score upsets to lead home charge

NEW YORK: Shelby Rogers fought off four match points to upset sixth seed Petra Kvitova and reach the United States Open quarterfinals for the first time on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

The 27-year-old Rogers, who, two years ago, wondered if she would ever play again as she struggled to recover from knee surgery, battled into the last eight with a 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) defeat of Czech ace Kvitova in 2hr 40min.

It is only the second time in Rogers’ decade-long career that she has advanced to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. She reached the last eight at the French Open in 2016.

Rogers, who will face Japan’s fourth seed Naomi Osaka, in the quarterfinals, said she hopes to draw on the memory of her defeat at Roland Garros in New York.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the quarterfinals of a Slam,” Rogers said.

Rogers’ career was plunged into uncertainty in 2018 when she ruptured cartilage in her knee at Indian Wells. A difficult recovery left her fearing her promising career would be cut short.

Even though she started this year ranked at 174th in the world — she is now ranked 93rd — Rogers said she always thought of herself as a higher-ranked player.

Rogers’ performance was the latest impressive showing from the US contingent in the women’s singles at Flushing.

With Jennifer Brady upsetting Angelique Kerber, and second seed Sofia Kenin and third seed Serena Williams playing in the fourth round on Monday, the US could have as many as four women in the quarterfinals.

Brady, the 28th seed, steamrollered Kerber 6-1, 6-4, to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. AFP