Last year’s Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was the big casualty on day seven at the US Open crashing out to Marion Bartoli while top seed Victoria Azarenka and reigning champ Samantha Stosur progressed.
In the wide open women’s draw, fifth seed Kvitova was upset by 11th seed Bartoli after winning the first set 6-1, with the French women hitting back to eventually win 1-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The result sends Bartoli into the quarterfinals where she’ll take on Russian third seed Maria Sharapova who knocked off compatriot Nadia Petrova in three sets.
Reigning US Open champion Stosur also progressed with a 6-4, 6-4 over young Brit Laura Robson, and her next opponent will be top seed Azarenka who defeated Anna Titashvili 6-2, 6-2.
Stosur told reporters: “It’s just different pressure, but I wouldn’t say it’s any worse. I’m happy to be in the quarters again.”
Meanwhile in the men’s, Djokovic eased into the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over French 31st seed Julien Benneteau.
Djokovic, who took some time off last month, said afterwards: “I have been playing really well in the US Open the last five years. My goal was to, in these seven, eight days I had off after the Cincinnati final, to really try to recover, charge my batteries, work on some things in my game, and come out strong from the start. That’s what I’ve done. I feel great on the court. I’m really trying to keep that up.”
Local hero Andy Roddick continued on his dream farewell run with a four-set win over Fabio Fognini setting up a last 16 clash with big-hitting Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.
Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer also progressed by getting past former champion Lleyton Hewitt in four, along with 13th seed Richard Gasquet and 18th seed Stanislas Wawrinka.