Unseeded Peng Shuai is within two victories of becoming the second female player from China to win a Grand Slam title, joining Li Na. The 28-year old Peng had another impressive victory Tuesday afternoon, reaching her first final four in a major tournament, beating 17-year-old Swiss sensation Belinda Bencic, needing just 64 minutes to record a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I dream [winning the U.S. Open], because everybody was like [asking] me all week, maybe you have a chance to get [to the quarterfinals], so I was really happy first time [reaching the] quarters. And I went to the semis. Of course its exciting, [its a] surprise, but is not like I feel like I cannot [do it].”
The victory continued a stunning run that has seen the 28-year-old Peng, ranked 40th in the world in singles and third in doubles, roll through her first four matches without dropping a set.
Peng will face No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals on Friday.
Catherine “CiCi” Bellis won’t get her consolation prize.
The 15-year old from California lost in three sets to Natalia Vikhlyantseva, 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-1, in the second round of the junior girls’ draw on Tuesday, a disappointing ending for Bellis, the top seed.
Bellis became America’s tennis sweetheart last week when she beat the 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in a heart-stopping three-setter in the first round of the main draw. She went on to lose in the second round., but won more than a few fans in the process, and the media also took a liking to her.
“It’s kind of the price you pay when you do well, so I can’t really complain about that,” Bellis said of the attention.
Bob and Mike Bryan continued their quest for their 100th doubles title with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco. Next up in the semifinals for the Bryans will be Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram. Should they win two more matches, it will be their first Slam title of the year. They have 15 overall and have one at least one major title in the past nine years.
Pseudo-retired five-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Hingis reached the women’s doubles semifinals, teaming with Flavia Pennetta in a 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded pair Katarina Srebotnik and Kveta Peschke.
Hingis, 33, hasn’t appeared in a Grand Slam singles tournament since 2007, and last made the semifinals of a doubles Grand Slam in 2002.
Tomas Berdych, a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 winner over Dominic Thiem, and Marin Cilic — 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 over Gilles Simon — will face each other in the quarterfinals.
Wozniacki and Roger Federer and were announced as the winners of the annual U.S. Open sportsmanship award. The award is given to the player “who best demonstrates excellence in sportsmanship” during the summer’s U.S. Open series and the U.S. Open.