Dominika Cibulkova ended Angelique Kerber’s dream of consecutive grand slams. (Source: USA TODAY Sports) Dominika Cibulkova ended Angelique Kerber’s dream of consecutive grand slams. (Source: USA TODAY Sports) Fourth seed Angelique Kerber’s bid for consecutive Grand Slam titles ended when 29th seed Dominika Cibulkova defeated the German 3-6 6-3 6-3 in the US Open third round on Saturday. Momentum shifted firmly in feisty Cibulkova’s favour in the third set when she broke to take a 4-2 lead and held for 5-2. The Slovakian fell to the ground and let out a scream when Kerber sent a backhand wide to end a quality match between two of the game’s premier counter-punchers. The speedy 5 foot 3 inch Cibulkova was strongest in the longer rallies, nimbly moving across the court to extend points during the two-hour 13 minute affair at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The pair split sets in an evenly matched fight and began the third with routine holds but Cibulkova drew first blood by breaking Kerber’s serve to take a 3-1 lead. An energised Kerber struck back to break in the next game and close the gap but the comeback was short-lived as Cibulkova broke again and comfortably held for the rest of the match. “I had my chances, but I couldn’t take them, especially in the third set,” Kerber told reporters. “She hit the balls really well and played the winners when she had to. I think that was the difference in the match today.” Cibulkova said that after losing to Kerber twice this year, in June at the Eastborne International and in January at the Sydney International, she adjusted her approach to the match. “We had to change something, and I think we had the great tactic with my coach, and I was able to do it,” Cibulkova told reporters. “Of course, I was aggressive going for my forehand, going for my shots. Just overall everything was working.” Cibulkova faces last year’s US Open runner-up, American Madison Keys, in the fourth round. Keys leads Cibulkova 4-0 in head-to-head meetings. Kerber, who won Wimbledon in July, was the latest favourite to be knocked out of the women’s singles at Flushing Meadows after top seed Simona Halep and second seed Caroline Wozniacki. Working US Open night shift fine with Maria Sharapova Maria Sharapova made the most of Jelena Ostapenko’s errors to progress under the Flushing Meadows lights. (Source: AP) Maria Sharapova made the most of Jelena Ostapenko’s errors to progress under the Flushing Meadows lights. (Source: AP) Maria Sharapova continued to enjoy working the US Open night shift with a 6-3 6-2 humbling of 10th seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, improving her record to 22-0 under the Arthur Ashe Stadium floodlights. There is no denying Sharapova’s love for the big stage or the New York crowd’s love for her and the five-time Grand Slam champion admitted that she feeds off the buzz. “It’s the energy you get, no doubt I feed off this energy,” said Sharapova, who used that inspiration to carry her to victory at the 2006 U.S. Open. “I don’t remember how old I was when I played my first night match, but I’m sure I was young enough to still be intimidated by the city and the lights and the atmosphere, the noise. “But I really turned that around. I think I thrive on that. “I love the atmosphere. I love that they know how to cheer hard. I thrive on playing under the lights for some reason. I love that.” Even if the match was played at night there was no masking the poor quality of the opening set that featured four breaks of serve. Ostapenko, who was the runaway leader in double faults at this year’s final Grand Slam, had three alone in her opening service game but was not punished for her sloppiness with Sharapova unable to convert any of five break chances. Eventually Sharapova would cash in on Ostapenko’s generosity with the Latvian offering up 11 break opportunities and the Russian converting three – more than enough to take the first set. “First game was a tricky game,” said Ostapenko, who had 41 unforced errors to go along with six double faults. “But then I served two good serves on deuce. I won that game. “Then everything went just not my way. I was making so many unforced errors. “With that level, it was tough to beat Maria.” The nightmare serving continued into the second set with four consecutive breaks before Sharapova finally managed a hold for 3-2. Ostapenko, however, would not manage to hold her serve at any point in the set and Sharapova broke the 2017 French Open champion twice more to clinch the victory. The 31-year-old will meet Carla Suarez Navarro in the last 16 after the Spaniard upset French sixth seed Caroline Garcia 5-7 6-4 7-6(4). Naomi Osaka rolls Aliaksandra Sasnovich with double bagel Naomi Osaka cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win and progress at the US Open. (Source: USA TODAY Sports) Naomi Osaka cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win and progress at the US Open. (Source: USA TODAY Sports) A ruthless Naomi Osaka crushed Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-0 6-0 to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time on Saturday. The 20-year-old Indian Wells champion put on a near-flawless display as she fired four aces and 12 winners to dispatch the Belarusian in 50 blistering minutes. Osaka committed just three unforced errors as she notched up her third successive straight sets win, dropping only seven games in total during her run to the second week of the hardcourt major. The 20th seed will look to continue her winning ways when she plays either fifth seed Petra Kvitova or Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the quarter-finals. Marketa Vondrousova stuns Kiki Bertens to advance Marketa Vondrousova broke Kiki Bertens four times and was dominant in the short rallies, winning 66 to Berten’s 44. (Source: AP) Marketa Vondrousova broke Kiki Bertens four times and was dominant in the short rallies, winning 66 to Berten’s 44. (Source: AP) Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova upset Dutch 13th seed Kiki Bertens 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(1) to reach the fourth round, becoming the youngest woman remaining in the main draw. Bertens had been expected to win her ninth match in a row after capturing the Cincinnati Masters title two weeks ago, a run that included victories over the world’s top two players Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep, but the 103rd-ranked Vondrousova refused to get overawed by the occasion. The left-handed Vondrousova broke Bertens four times and was dominant in the short rallies, winning 66 to Berten’s 44. The 19-year-old ultimately trampled over Bertens in the third-set tiebreak as the Dutch self destructed by producing four successive unforced errors. “It was so, so tough for me,” Vondrousova said after reaching the fourth round of a major for the first time. “I just stayed calm.” Vondrousova was one of a record six Czech women to have reached the third round of this year’s U.S. Open. Eighth seed Karolina Pliskova is already through to the last 16 and fifth seed Petra Kvitova will also be hoping to increase Czech representation in the fourth round when she faces Aryna Sabalenka later on day six of the championships. A year after bowing out in the opening round on her Flushing Meadows debut, Vondrousova appears more at ease on the Grand Slam stage. “I think I’m mentally better. I’m a year older, that’s maybe the thing,” Vondrousova, who will next face Ukrainian Lesla Tsurenko, said. “It was very close match this year, so I think I’m just mentally better.” Aryna Sabalenka overpowers Petra Kvitova Aryna Sabalenka dominated Petra Kvitova was the baseline while making fewer unforced errors. (Source: AP) Aryna Sabalenka dominated Petra Kvitova was the baseline while making fewer unforced errors. (Source: AP) Fifth seed Petra Kvitova became the latest big name in the women’s draw to crash out of the US Open when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 6-1 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium on Saturday.<doc-sep>Sandra Harwitt Special to USA TODAY NEW YORK — The new Louis Armstrong Stadium is bringing bad luck to many of the top women stars at this year's US Open. Angelique Kerber, who won her third Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, is the latest player to be upset at the stadium. She fell to 29th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, a former top 10 star, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday. During the tournament's first week, top seed Simona Halep, second seed Caroline Wozniacki and 12th seed Garbine Muguruza - all former Grand Slam champions - were upset at Armstrong Stadium. The women’s tour is now guaranteed to have a fourth different Grand Slam champion this year. All three 2018 champions - Wozniacki at the Australian Open, Halep at the French Open and Kerber at Wimbledon - have been eliminated. This is the second consecutive year without a repeat Grand Slam winner. Cibulkova picked up her first win against top 10 player this season. Kerber holds a 7-6 edge against Cibulkova. The Slovakian defeated Kerber to win the biggest prize of her career at the 2016 WTA Finals. More:Roger Federer surges past Nick Kyrgios into fourth round More:Serena applauds work being done by Kaepernick, Reid Kerber, the 2016 US Open champion, dropped her serve to Cibulkova six times. Cibulkova posted 40 winners to 23 for Kerber in the 2 hour, 13 minute match. Cibulkova will play Madison Keys, last year’s US Open finalist, in the fourth round. Keys defeated Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 earlier Saturday.<doc-sep>Kerber (Picture: Getty) Angelique Kerber was disappointed with her own level during a third-round US Open defeat at the hands of Dominika Cibulkova, admitting it was not her best day. The German had enjoyed a fabulous year at Grand Slam level this season – reaching the last-four in Australia and the quarter-finals in Paris before winning Wimbledon – but came up short at a tournament she won two years ago. Kerber was the latest high-profile WTA star to crash out, following world No. 1 Simona Halep and second seed Caroline Wozniacki out of the draw – and it was a result that guarantees there will be four separate Grand Slam winners in a calendar year for the second consecutive season. Cibulkova secured a big win (Picture: Getty) The 30-year-old was frustrated at being unable to deliver her best form but remained philosophical in defeat and praised her Slovakian opponent. ‘You have sometimes days where you are trying everything, but it’s not really working as you wish,’ she said after the 6-3 3-6 3-6 loss. ‘I mean, I was trying everything until the last point. I was trying also during, yeah, the rallies to go for it. But I was not able actually to being more aggressive than she was, and I think that that was then the difference. ‘That actually was not really the best day of me. But she plays good, and all the credit to her. Kerber congratulated her opponent (Picture: Getty) ‘Always tough matches. I mean, she has not a big serve, but I have not a big serve. So, I mean, she has something different which makes her strong. ‘I mean, she played well, very well in the last years, as well. She’s a tough opponent. But, yeah, I mean, I was expecting how she is playing. ‘For me, it was more that I was focusing on me, on my game, and I know that I can play better. Yeah, she makes – yeah. She was the one which was aggressive and, yeah, take the match in the end in her hands.’<doc-sep>
Germany's Angelique Kerber crashed out of the third round of the US Open on Saturday, losing in three sets to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Keber's defeat means the New York grand slam will go into its second week without a German player in the women's draw. The 30-year-old from Kiel, who triumphed at Flushing Meadows back in 2016, lost to 29th seed Cibulkova after 2 hours and 13 minutes of play, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6. Kerber broke Cibulkova in the first game of the match and went on to take the first set, but that was as good as it got for the fourth seed. The second set was all Cibulkova. Instead of going on the offensive, Kerber allowed herself to fall behind and never recovered. While she her lackluster style were enough for her progress through the first two rounds, it proved fatal against the lively Slovak. Kerber entered the tournament as the fourth favorite but rarely managed to convince. In the first round she struggled at times against Russia's Margarita Gasparyan, who is ranked 366 places below her. Her second round tie against the unseeded Johanna Larsson of Sweden did not prove much easier. Up a set and a break, Kerber was serving for the match at 6-2, 5-2. However, she saw two match points come and go as Larsson upped her game to embark on an inspired comeback effort. The No.4 seed held her ground to ultimately triumph in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Kerber and Cibulkova are frequent Frequent rivals, Cibulkova beat Kerber this time Kerber and Cibulkova are frequent rivals, having played each other 12 times with Kerber besting the Slovak with seven wins. This year's US Open has already seen its share of upsets, after the top two seeds, French Open winner Simona Halep of Romania and Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki, were eliminated in the second round. Last year's winner Sloane Stephens and six-time US Open winner Serena Williams are now considered the top favorites to win the grand slam. Cibulkova will play Madison Keyes in the quarter finals. av/dm (AP, Reuters, SDI) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.