NEW YORK (AP) – The Latest on the U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam tennis tournament (all times local):
___
12:35 p.m.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova moved into the U.S. Open’s fourth round with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over 18th-seeded Caroline Garcia of France.
It was only the 19th match of the year for Kvitova, who missed the first half of the season after she was cut on her left hand – the one she holds her racket with – during an attack by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic in December. Garcia, in contrast, has played 52 matches in 2017.
The 13th-seeded Kvitova is in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the third time in a row. She lost at that stage to eventual champion Angelique Kerber a year ago.
Kvitova never faced a break point Friday and raced through the first set in 26 minutes. Garcia finally grabbed a game to begin the second set, which was more competitive until Kvitova broke for a 4-3 edge.
___
11:30 a.m.
Five women still remain in contention for the No. 1 ranking as the U.S. Open’s third round begins.
Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza are among them and try to reach the fourth round by winning Friday.
Two of the others, current No. 1 Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina, will play Saturday.
The fifth, Simona Halep, lost in the first round to Maria Sharapova.
Action is underway on Day 5, with two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova facing 18th-seeded Caroline Garcia in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Later, Williams meets Maria Sakkari, and Muguruza plays No. 31 Magdalena Rybarikova.
Sharapova plays at night against American wild-card entry Sofia Kenin.
___
More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis