Anisimova knocks out top seed in Charleston

Amanda Anisimova (photo by Daniel Ward)

It wasn't exactly a surprise. 15th seed Amanda Anisimova was 2-0 against Aryna Sabalenka before the Credit One Charleston Open began, having beaten the world number 5 at both the French Open and the Australian Open. Today, Anisimova defeated top seed Sabalenka 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the quarterfinals. In that round, she'll face countrywoman Coco Vandeweghe, a lucky loser who upset 5th seed Jessie Pegula today.

Belinda Bencic (photo by Daniel Ward)

10th seed Belinda Bencic defeated 9th seed (and 2019 champion) Madison Keys 6-4, 6-4,  and Anhelina Kalinina upset 12th seed Alizé Cornet 7-6, 7-5. So far, Kalinina has defeated Cornet, 5th seed Elena Rybakina and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

An intense final game of a three-set match was contested by 7th seed Leylah Fernandez and Magda Linette in the last match of the second round, which could not be played yesterday because of rain. In that game, which lasted seventeen minutes, Linette--serving at 5-4--saved four break points, and won the match on her seventh match point.  

She didn't have much time to celebrate or to rest, though, because she had to return to the court later and play Kaia Kanepi, whom she also defeated, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

4th seed Ons Jabeur had to finish her second round match, which was interrupted by rain yesterday. She defeated Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-2. This evening, Jabeur was on court again, this time to play her third round match against Irina-Camelia Begu, whom she defeated 6-3, 6-2.

Paula Badosa (photo by Daniel Ward)

2nd seed Paula Badosa faced a tough opponent in Claire Liu, who won the first set, and was two points away from winning the match during four occasions during the second set tiebreak. Badosa defeated her 3-6, 7-6, 6-1.

Finally, Ekaterina Alexandrova upset 3rd seed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-1.

Here is the quarterfinal draw:

Amanda Anisimova (15) vs. Coco Vandeweghe (LL)

Ons Jabeur (4) vs. Anhelina Kalinina

Magda Linette vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova

Belinda Bencic (10) vs. Paula Badosa (2)