When two-time U.S. Open finalist Victoria Azarenka netted a forehand to hand Aleksandra Krunic the first set, an upset didn’t seem like an impossible dream.
Krunic, the 21-year-old qualifier from Serbia who took out Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Saturday, came up short as Azarenka posted a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory to advance to the quarterfinals.
Next up for Azarenka is Ekaterina Makarova, who has yet to drop a set in Flushing. Azarenka leads the head-to-head 3-2 and is 2-0 on hard courts against the Russian southpaw.
Early on, there was no indication this match would go the distance, as Azarenka — who is starting to round into form after an injury-marred season — broke Krunic’s serve twice in a row to take a quick 3-0 lead.
“I was pretty nervous in the first three games before I won the first game,” Krunic said.
Once she got on the board, Krunic freed up, taking six of the final seven games of the first set.
In the seventh game of the second set, Azarenka broke for a 4-3 lead, and held twice to level the match at a set apiece.
After squandering an early break in the final set, Azarenka fell behind 0-30 while serving for the match but didn’t falter, winning the final four points of the match and earning the win when Krunic’s forehand sailed just long on match point.
“I think she played exceptionally well today,” Azarenka said. “She played on a really high level and [was] really consistent throughout the match. … She’s a young player with a good future if she keeps going this way.”
Despite the loss, it was still a wildly successful tournament for Krunic, who will be ranked in the top 100 for the first time.
“It’s too early for me to feel [these] emotions but for sure tomorrow when I wake up [and] sit with my team, I will be very proud of myself,” she said.