A New American Star is Born as Alison Riske Advances to the Round of 16

Less than 48 hours after 17-year-old Victoria Duval was eliminated from U.S. Open contention, a new American star may have been born on Court 17 of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as American Alison Riske upset the number seven seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-0. The 23-year-old Riske from Pennsylvania next faces former top five Daniela Hantuchova for a spot in the quarterfinals. It was Hantuchova on Thursday night who eliminated Duval and dashed the upstart American’s hopes at a U.S. Open Cinderella story.

"I’ve got a new confidence in myself," said Riske in her post-match interview. "I believe that I belong here."

Riske was 0-5 at major tournaments before Wimbledon this year, but is 5-1 since.

And as Riske advanced to the Round of 16, New Jersey native Christina McHale’s U.S. Open run ended Saturday after her 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss to 2008 French Open champ, Ana Ivanovic. McHale was one game away from upsetting Ivanovic, and had a chance to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, but Ivanovic broke back. Ivanovic saved two break points at 5-5, and broke McHale’s serve in the next game to clinch the second set. Ivanovic broke McHale again in the final game of the third set for the victory.

“After some of the losses I’ve had this year, even though today it hurts to lose this type of close match, I feel much better about my game,” said McHale.

Ivanovic enters the Round of 16 and will face the number two seed, Victoria Azarekna. Azarenka was a Saturday afternoon winner in nearly three hours over France’s Alizé Cornet, 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2.

In addition to Riske’s big Saturday upset, number six-seeded Caroline Wozniacki was sent packing Saturday at the hands of 22-year-old Italian Camila Giorgi, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Giorgi hit 46 winners to 45 unforced errors during the match, while Wozniacki hit 13 winners to 27 unforced errors. Giorgi hadn’t played a tournament since Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury.

"This was my first tournament back, and I feel good now. My shoulder is good,” said Giorgi. “So I’m really happy about everything now."

Giorgi next draws fellow Italian Roberta Vinci, the number 10 seed.

Also falling on Saturday was the number 14 seed, Russian Maria Kirilenko, a straight sets 6-1, 6-0 loser to Romania’s Simona Halep, the 21 seed.