Sports

16, September 2018

Bundes: Kenya’s Kipchoge breaks marathon world record in Berlin ⁰

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has set a new marathon world record, winning the Berlin race in 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds on Sunday.

The Kenyan defended his title in the German capital, pulling ahead of his competitors early on amid perfect running conditions.

He broke the previous world record set in Berlin by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto in 2014 by 1 minute and 18 seconds. Race organizers initially timed Kipchoge a second slower, but later corrected the time.

Berlin debutant Amos Kipruto came second in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 23 seconds, followed by a third Kenyan, former world-record holder Wilson Kipsang, who was 25 seconds behind.

“I lack words to describe this day,” Kipchoge said after winning the race.

“They say you miss two times but you can’t miss the third time,” he said in reference to his two previous failed attempts to break the world record in Berlin.

Shogo Nakamura of Japan narrowly missed setting a new national record with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 16 seconds.

Gladys Cherono won the women’s race in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 11 seconds, a new women’s record for the Berlin marathon. The Kenyan finished ahead of Ethiopians Rutia Aga and Tirunesh Dibaba.

(AP)

14, September 2018

Cameroon’s Pierre Webo returns to Uruguay after 18 years ⁰

Former Cameroon international striker Pierre Webo has rejoined Uruguayan side Nacional, 16 years after leaving the South American club for Europe.

He won league titles with Nacional in 2001 and 2002, and emerged joint-top scorer with four goals in the 2002 Copa Sudamericana, one of South America’s biggest club competitions.

The 36-year-old left Nacional for Spanish outfit Osasuna in 2002.

“This place always has a special place in my heart,” said Webo.

He went on to spend eight years in Spain – including spells at Leganes and Mallorca – before moving to Turkey’s Istanbul Başakşehir in 2011.

Webo spent three successful years at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, winning the league, Cup and Super Cup titles between 2011 and 2013.

He also played for Osmanlispor and Gazişehir before aagreeing to a return to South America.

The forward was capped 58 times by Cameroon, scoring 18 goals for them, he played for the Indomitable Lions at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and in two Africa Cup of Nations.

12, September 2018

Is Clarence Seedorf doomed to fail with La Republique? ⁰

When Cameroon appointed Clarence Seedorf on August 4, it appeared like a decision driven primarily by glamour and status rather than by practical on-field reasons.

Certainly, the 42-year-old enjoyed the kind of playing career that would be the envy of the vast majority of his peers, winning four Champions League titles and five major leagues, yet his coaching career has done little to inspire confidence.

Stints with AC Milan, Shenzhen FC and Deportivo La Coruna, the last of whom were relegated under his watch, were as brief as they were muddled, and the Dutch great has done little to suggest that he can translate his playing qualities to the dugout.

Had he been taking over an African national team without internal ruptures, a recent track record of underachievement, or the pressure of a major tournament on home soil, he’d have been a questionable pick.

However, Cameroon—considering their challenging condition—represent a mammoth challenge for a young coach with no notable managerial track record and no prior experience of African football.

Cameroon Germany Wilmar Roldan Confederations Cup 2017

He’s walking into a particularly tough job, even if reigning champions Cameroon—for now at least—are guaranteed a spot at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Their Nations Cup success in Gabon in 2017 represents something of an isolated island of achievement after two underwhelming World Cup campaigns—in 2010 and 2014—in which they were the first team eliminated.

The side imploded in Brazil, hinting at the ongoing problems of governance and structure, and then missed out on qualification for the 2018 tournament – the first time they’ve not made it since 1986.

This failure, coupled with a sub-par showing at the Fifa Confederations Cup, prompted the dismissal of Afcon-winning coach Hugo Broos in early December, and interim manager Alexandre Belinga held the fort until Seedorf’s appointment.

His opening match, Saturday’s game away in lowly Comoros—ranked 149th in the world—represented, on paper, a relatively straightforward assignment for the Central African giants.

Cameroon fans

However, it proved to be anything but, with the synthetic turf and a furious atmosphere at the Stade Said Mohamed Chiekh in Mitsamiouli giving the hosts the kind of lift they needed to believe that they could trouble the five-time African champions.

Comoros took the lead through El Fardou Ben Nabouhane’s 15th-minute effort, and Cameroon appeared on course for a famous defeat until Stephane Bahoken levelled 10 minutes from time after the hosts’ captain—Abdou Nadjim—missed a defensive header.

It was a major let-off for Seedorf, and while other continental heavyweights struggled this weekend—Algeria, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, South Africa, Senegal all failing to beat ‘lesser’ opponents—he ought to be concerned about the performance of his new charges.

Of primary concern for the coach and Cameroon fans will be their lethargy and apparent complacency.

There was little urgency or focus about this Lions side—Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting perhaps the only exception—and they appeared to underestimate their opponents.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Yaya Banana’s Franz Beckenbauer-esque attempted slalom through the heart of the Comorian midfield—from centre-back—was an early sign of things to come, while the team grew frenetic and panicked when the prospect of defeat loomed, rather than intense and ruthless.

To those who questioned whether Seedorf’s lack of experience of the African game would make him a risky pick as Cameroon coach, this was fuel for the fire.

Without Sebastien Siani and Arnaud Djoum, two of several high-profile players cut from the squad, a midfield of Frank-Andre Zambo Anguissa and Georges Mandjeck floundered, failing to take a handle on the match or protect their defence.

Further forward, while Choupo Moting caught the eye in a forward line that was mobile, Karl Toko Ekambi struggled in place of injured Vincent Aboubakar, who has three goals in his last four for FC Porto.

His team selections also raised some question marks, with Seedorf seemingly redeeming his earlier error to start Gaetan Bong ahead of Ambroise Oyongo by introducing the latter late on.

It was Montpellier’s Oyongo who ultimately provided the assist for Bahoken’s equalier, while Bong had endured a torrid time—representing a nervous presence when under pressure and offering little going forward.

Once again, Cameroon’s showing served a reminder of how Seedorf should be making efforts to recall some of the squad’s ostracised stars.

Cameroon Absentees

He questionably cut Benjamin Moukandjo, Christian Bassogog and Siani from his maiden squad—denying the team of three key figures they could ill-afford to lose—and opted to start with Banana and Collins Fai in defence.

Panionios’s Banana perhaps deserves more than the handful of caps he has to date, but he’s an inferior prospect to Joel Matip or Nicolas N’Koulou, and Seedorf must make major efforts to ensure that both are dragged back to the fold.

Similarly, Seedorf can justify doing without arguably the Lions’ two best players—Moukandjo and Bassogog—if Cameroon are blowing away teams like Comoros, who were beaten 3-0 by Mozambique less than four months ago.

If they’re not, his hardline decision—opting to overlook players playing in China or the Middle East—becomes a rod to beat him with.

Ultimately, the coach didn’t seem too fazed by Cameroon’s struggles, and indeed was impressed with some of the things he saw from his side.

Benjamin Moukandjo of Cameroon

“It was obviously difficult conditions,” he said, as per the Cameroonian Football Federation, “but the team spirit, the fighting spirit to try to escape with the victory was there.

“I do not think another team would come here to have an easy day,” he added. “I am absolutely not disappointed, but happy with the spirit we have shown.

“I finally got to know the players,” Seedorf concluded. “This first step of this cycle has been very positive.”

If the Dutchman can imbue this squad of players with team spirit—as Broos did ahead of the triumphant Afcon campaign—then he may just be on the right track.

However, his lack of experience in the continental game, his scant success as a manager and the significant absentees—several now caused by the coach—leave him with a mountain to climb.

Culled from Goal.com

11, September 2018

Australian paper under fire for ‘racist’ Serena Williams cartoon ⁰

An Australian cartoonist faced withering criticism on Tuesday for portraying tennis superstar Serena Williams using — what Harry Potter author JK Rowling described as — “racist and sexist tropes”.

Mark Knight’s caricature, published in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper on Monday, showed a butch and fat-lipped Williams throwing a temper tantrum at the US Open.

In the midst of losing Saturday’s final, the 23-time Grand Slam champion smashed her racquet and called the umpire a “thief” and a “liar”.

She was deducted a point and received a US$17,000 fine, stirring the tennis world and sparking a broader debate about double standards toward men and women in the sport.

In Knight’s cartoon, Williams was seen jumping up and down having spat out a dummy as the umpire asks Haitian-Japanese tournament winner Naomi Osaka “can’t you just let her win?”.

Knight, who has a reputation for controversial cartoons, was pilloried from far and wide for his portrayal — including by a member of the US Congress and a large portion of the 22,000 people who commented on his Twitter post showing the drawing.

The detractors included author JK Rowling, who said: “Well done on reducing one of the greatest sportswomen alive to racist and sexist tropes and turning a second great sportswoman into a faceless prop.”

Knight responded to the criticism by pointing out that he had drawn an unflattering portrayal of Australian male tennis star Nick Kyrgios “behaving badly”.

“Don’t bring gender into it when it’s all about behaviour,” he said. Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australasia, which publishes the Melbourne’s Herald Sun, defended his cartoonist.

“Criticism of Mark Knight’s Serena Williams cartoon shows the world has gone too PC & misunderstands the role of news media cartoons and satire,” he said.

“Poor behaviour in any sport needs to be called out.”

The Washington Post ran a searing post about Knight’s cartoon, calling it “racist” and reminiscent of the era of racial segregation in the United States.

“Knight draws facial features reflecting the dehumanizing Jim Crow caricatures so common in the 19th and 20th centuries,” commentator Michael Cavna wrote.

Other US media pointed out that Osaka was portrayed as petite and feminine with jet blonde straight hair — in real life she has dark curly hair with blonde streaks and is taller than Williams.

Australia is a highly multicultural country, but also sees frequent public dust-ups about the use of racially and sexually loaded language. William’s loss cost her a chance to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.

During the match she was given three code violations by Carlos Ramos — the first for receiving coaching, the second for racquet abuse and the third for verbal abuse of the umpire. The second and third violations earned Williams a point penalty and then a game penalty, giving Osaka a 5-3 second-set lead that effectively gifted her the title.

AFP

10, September 2018

Tennis world divided after Serena Williams’ US Open outburst ⁰

Voices in the tennis world have spoken out both in support and condemnation of US tennis champion Serena Williams after the angry outburst that cost her a game, and possibly the match, during her US Open final on Saturday.

Williams’ behaviour divided the tennis world after she called the chair umpire a “liar” and a “thief” and said he treated her differently than male players during her loss to Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Rallying in support of the 23-time Grand Slam champion, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Monday called for the equal treatment of all tennis players, male or female.

“The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same. We do not believe that this was done last night,” CEO Steve Simon said in a statement.

Williams, who was seeking a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, was given three code violations by chair umpire Carlos Ramos in her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Osaka. The six-time US Open champion was handed a warning for a coaching violation before being deducted a point for smashing her racquet. She then had a heated argument with Ramos, which cost her a game.

Williams, who has since been fined $17,000 by the United States Tennis Association for the violations, vigorously disputed each of them during the match.

Support and condemnation

In the wake of Osaka’s first Grand Slam triumph, there were messages of support for Williams as well as those condemning her behaviour and agreeing with the umpire’s calls.

Tennis great Billy Jean King wrote on Twitter: “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”

Yet Australian Margaret Court, whose tally of Grand Slam singles titles is being chased by Williams, had little sympathy for the 36-year-old American former world number one.

“We always had to go by the rules,” Court, who dominated tennis during the 1960s and early 1970s, said according to a report in The Australian.

“It’s sad for the sport when a player tries to become bigger than the rules. “Because the young player outplayed her in the first set, I think pressure got her more than anything.”

Racquet smash

The drama started when Ramos handed Williams a coaching violation early in the second set because of hand gestures made from the stands by her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. He later admitted the offence, which is not allowed in the sport but is rarely punished.

When the violation was announced Williams approached Ramos to insist she never takes coaching and would rather lose than “cheat to win”.

Things seemed to settle down as Williams went on to break Osaka for a 3-1 lead, but she gave the break right back in the next game with a pair of double faults, prompting the former champion to smash her racquet on the court.

That resulted in a second violation, meaning Osaka was awarded the first point of the sixth game. Williams, who was under the impression the first violation had been rescinded, returned to Ramos to seek an apology for saying she had received coaching earlier.

During a changeover, Williams resumed her argument with the umpire, this time saying he was attacking her character and was a “thief”. That triggered a third violation, which resulted in a game penalty that gave Osaka a 5-3 lead.

From there, Williams summoned the tournament referee to the court and said male tennis players are not punished for similar offences.

‘Williams was wrong’

Tennis great John McEnroe, one of the game’s most tempestuous characters in his playing days, said the sport must find a way to allow players to express feelings and inject their personality into the game while adhering to certain rules.

According to McEnroe, Ramos should not have given Williams a violation for breaking her racquet and should have warned her early on about what would happen if she did not move on.

“I’ve said far worse,” McEnroe, a seven-times Grand Slam singles winner, said on ESPN. “She’s right about the guys being held to a different standard, there’s no question.”

Yet Richard Ings, a former professional chair umpire who also used to be the ATP Tour Executive Vice-President, Rules and Competition, felt it was Williams who needed to apologise.

Ings once issued a warning, point penalty and a game penalty against McEnroe at the 1987 US Open for obscenities directed at the umpire.

“We should not let her record, as glowing as it is, overshadow the fact that on this day, in this match Williams was wrong,” Ings wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald.

“The decisions made by Ramos had nothing to do with sexism or racism. They had everything to do with observing clear breaches of the grand slam code of conduct and then having the courage to call them without fear or favour.”

(FRANCE24 with Reuters and AP)

9, September 2018

Seedorf makes shaky start with Indomitable Lions ⁰

Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf made a shaky start to his tenure as Indomitable Lions coach as his team rescue a draw against Comoros Island in their African Cup of Nations qualifier yesterday. Stephane Bahoken netted an 80th-minute equaliser to save Cameroon from a humiliating defeat. The reigning African champions, who are currently set to host next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, fell behind in the 15th minute when El-Fardou Ben Mohamed opened the scoring.

The Red Star Belgrade forward put the hosts into an unlikely lead following some excellent work out wide from Lorient’s Faiz Selemani, who evaded his marker with some fine footwork before swinging in a cross for Ben Mohamed to slam a left-footed effort past Andre Onana at his near post. On a synthetic pitch, in front of a buoyant home support at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh in Mitsamiouli, Cameroon laboured for an equaliser against opponents ranked 149th in the world.

However, Angers striker Bahoken netted an equaliser 10 minutes from time after Comoran captain Nadjim Abdou misjudged his clearing header, allowing the 26-year-old to net his first international goal from close range. The win leaves Cameroon, who have automatically qualified for the AFCON but still compete in qualifying Group B, atop the pool with four points from their opening two fixtures. Ex-AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna coach Seedorf was appointed as Hugo Broos’s long-term successor on August 6. Since winning the AFCON title in February 2017, Cameroon struggled at the Confederations Cup and then failed to reach the 2018 World Cup.

www.vanguardngr.com

8, September 2018

Yaounde gambling on Seedorf amid African coaching changes ⁰

Former Netherlands star Clarence Seedorf is among more than a dozen coaches who will make Africa Cup of Nations debuts this weekend in 2019 qualifiers.

Despite underperforming in three previous managerial posts, the 42-year-old has been given a four-year contract by reigning African champions Cameroon.

His first match in charge of the ‘Indomitable Lions’ is away to minnows Comoros in Group B on Saturday.

Cameroon are guaranteed a place in the expanded 24-team 2019 Cup of Nations as hosts, but were included in the qualifying competition to give them match practice.

Vastly experienced and widely travelled Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson had been favourite for the Cameroon post after 2017 Cup of Nations-winning coach Hugo Broos was sacked.

Having masterminded a surprise fifth African title, Belgian Broos did not deliver at the 2017 Confederations Cup and failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was the final straw.

Seedorf got the nod, with fellow former Dutch star Patrick Kluivert as his assistant, having had brief, unsuccessful spells at AC Milan, Shenzhen and Deportivo la Coruna as manager.

“I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to manage this great country,” Seedorf said when appointed.

The big test for the former Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder will come next June when Cameroon host the biennial African football showpiece.

Only another title will satisfy Cameroonian officials and supporters as the country stages the tournament for the first time since 1972, when it was a mere eight-nation event.

Egypt have appointed Mexican Javier Aguirre, a 59-year-old who has coached his homeland and Japan as well as several Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid.

He succeeds Hector Cuper, the Argentine not offered a contract extension after the ‘Pharaohs’ flopped at the World Cup, losing all three group matches.

His first assignment is at home to modest Niger and the main issue would appear to be how many goals Mohamed Salah-inspired Egypt win by.

Aguirre got the job ahead of Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who took Algeria to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup before quitting over what he considered hostile media coverage.

“I am really honoured to be here,” the Mexican said when introduced to the media. “It is my first job in Africa and a big challenge.”

Cuper was often criticised for overly defensive tactics and much attention will now centre on whether Aguirre opts for a more adventurous approach.

While many of the new coaches are non-Africans, Tanzanian officials tired of a lack of delivery by numerous Europeans have signed former Nigeria star Emmanuel Amuneke.

Amuneke scored the goals that gave Nigeria the 1994 Cup of Nations title and played for Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.

After coaching success with Nigeria at age-limit level, Tanzania hope he can lift them out of mediocrity with their only previous Cup of Nations appearance 38 years ago.

The Ivory Coast are rebuilding after age caught up with “golden generation” stars like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Kolo Toure.

Belgian Marc Wilmots disappointed as coach of the ‘Elephants’, failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup and losing at home to Guinea in a 2019 Cup of Nations eliminator.

His successor is local Ibrahim Kamara, who plans a pragmatic “counterattacking” system to stabilise the team and achieve results, starting in Rwanda this Sunday.

AFP

6, September 2018

Former France international Jean-Alain Boumsong joins Cameroon staff ⁰

Cameroon-born former France international Jean Alain Boumsong has been appointed as part of the Indomitable Lions coaching staff.

The 38-year-old was born in Douala but went on to play 27 times for France

He will now work with Dutch coach Clarence Seedorf and assistant Patrick Kluivert.

The former Newcastle United and Rangers played has been working with the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) since June.

He has been heading up a committee charged with reforming Cameroon’s national set up as well as establishing an efficient technical team for the national teams.

Boumsong was appointed alongside former Indomitable Lions attacker Joel Epalle, who will be serving as Seedorf’s third deputy.

Epalle, 40, won a gold medal with Cameroon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won the Africa Cup of Nations two years later.

The duo will be linking up with another former Cameroon international Bill Tchato, who was named team manager.

The team is preparing for a 2019 Nations Cup game against Comoros on 8 September in Mitsamiouli.

Culled from the BBC

4, September 2018

Tiger Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau named in US Ryder Cup team ⁰

Tiger Woods was named to the United States’ Ryder Cup team on Tuesday as captain Jim Furyk also added veteran Phil Mickelson and in-form Bryson DeChambeau to his line-up.

Former world number one Woods had already been assured of a trip to Paris for the September 28-30 showdown with Europe after being named as one of Furyk’s non-playing vice-captains.

However Woods’ form since his return to golf this year prompted Furyk to award him one of the four captain’s picks set aside for players who did not qualify automatically for the team.

Mickelson and DeChambeau filled the other two captain’s picks announced by Furyk on Tuesday.

The US captain will announce his final place on the defending champions’ team next week, with Tony Finau regarded as the front-runner for the position.

There had been little suspense surrounding Furyk’s announcement on Tuesday.

Woods, 42, will be playing in his eighth Ryder Cup and makes his first appearance since the 2012 event.

The 14-time major champion signalled his return to form last month with an electrifying second-place finish at the PGA Championship.

Mickelson meanwhile was regarded as a likely pick for what will be his 12th Ryder Cup appearance.

The 48-year-old reminded Furyk of his quality with a dazzling eight-under-par 63 in the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship on Monday.

DeChambeau, 24, had virtually guaranteed himself one of the captain’s picks after storming to victory in the opening two legs of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoff series, winning the Northern Trust and Dell Technologies Championship.

The United States will be chasing their first Ryder Cup victory on European soil in 25 years when they face Europe at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines outside Paris.

AFP

4, September 2018

Black night as Federer, Sharapova crash at US Open ⁰

Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova crashed out of the US Open on Monday in back-to-back seismic shocks under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.

Federer, the five-time champion and looking to end his 10-year wait to add to his total in New York, was beaten by Australia’s world number 55 John Millman 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3).

It was 20-time major winner Federer’s first loss against a player outside the top 50 in 41 meetings at the US Open.

He finished with 77 unforced errors and 10 double faults.

“It was very hot. I felt I couldn’t get any air and I was sweating more and more and became more and more uncomfortable,” explained Federer.

“I guess I was happy when the match was over.”

He added: “John dealt with it better — he’s from Brisbane, one of the most humid places in the world!”

It was the world number two’s earliest defeat at the tournament since a fourth round loss to Tommy Robredo in 2013.

The result meant there would be no quarter-final showdown with old rival Novak Djokovic who will now face Millmann instead.

“I have so much respect for Roger and everything he’s done for the game. He’s been a hero of mine,” said Millman.

“Today he was definitely not at his best. But I’ll take it.”

Sharapova, the 2006 champion, suffered a second successive last-16 exit in New York, blasted off court by Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Spanish player marked her 30th birthday in style with a memorable 6-4, 6-3 win over the five-time major champion whose last Slam title was in Paris in 2014.

Federer had cruised through the first set against Millman who was appearing in his maiden last-16 at the majors.

But the Swiss, who lost in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon where he was defending champion, began to look every bit the 37-year-old he is as he struggled in the suffocating humidity.

He squandered two set points in the second set and another in the third set tiebreak as the errors piled up.

Federer was 4-2 up in the fourth set but was reeled in and two back-to-back double faults sent him 1/4 down in the tiebreak.

– ‘Break a leg’ –

The contest was over shortly before 1 a.m. when he hit a weary forehand wide.

Djokovic reached the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over unseeded Joao Sousa.

Djokovic, who ended a 54-week title drought with his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, said he was relieved to get past 68th-ranked Sousa in straight sets as temperatures soared again.

“Very happy to get this one done in straight sets,” said Djokovic, who left the court for a medical evaluation early in the third set but returned to wrap things up in exactly two hours.

Marin Cilic, seeded seven, beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 6-4 and next takes on Japan’s Kei Nishikori who saw off German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

Cilic defeated Nishikori in the 2014 final when he won his only Slam title.

Sharapova, the 2006 champion who was trying to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012, hit 38 unforced errors and dropped serve six times.

The defeat also ended the former world number one’s perfect record of 23 wins — 22 of them on Arthur Ashe Stadium — in night sessions at Flushing Meadows.

“I thought she played really well. I thought in today’s conditions, her ball was getting up on me a little bit more, much more than my previous three opponents that I played,” said Sharapova.

“I didn’t take care of the chances that I had. By ‘chances,’ I mean the balls that were a little bit shorter.”

Suarez Navarro, who was also a quarter-finalist in New York in 2013, goes on to face American 14th seed Madison Keys, the runner-up in 2017.

“Maria has played here at night many times so I knew I needed to be aggressive, focussed and play solid,” said the 30th seeded Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final, beating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, tearfully admitting she was prepared to “break a leg” to win the match.

The 20-year-old became the first Japanese woman in the US Open last-eight since Shinobu Asagoe in 2004.

Osaka, seeded 20, came back from a break down in the final set to take the tie on a fourth match point when Sabalenka served up an eighth double fault.

“I would never have forgiven myself if I had lost that match,” said a tearful Osaka.

“When I was a break down in the final set I thought I would even break a leg if needed so I could get to every ball.”

Osaka will next face Lesia Tsurenko, the 36th-ranked Ukrainian who beat Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-2.

AFP