American Sloane Stephens on Tuesday had her bid to
repeat as champion at the US Open stolen away in straight-sets loss
to Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
The 6-2, 6-3 win puts the 19th-seeded Sevastova through to her first
semi-final in a grand slam.
The match was played on another day when the temperature pushed above
32 degrees Celsius, prompting tournament officials to implement an
extreme heat policy, which has been in effect for most of the
tournament.
"It was very physical today. It's so hot in here," the 28-year-old
Sevastova said. "It was important that I won the first set."
Down 4-3 in the second set, Stephens fought hard to level, but
Sevastova saved several game points in a tense match in which the
crowd favoured the 25-year-old American, cheering her own after every
point won.
Sevastova complained to the chair umpire over a few calls, but
overall kept her composure.
"We showed some nerves, but it's normal," said Sevastova, who reached
the quarter finals last year and the year before at the US Open.