US Open 2013: Day 6 - Hantuchova completes stunning comeback

Hantuchova was delighted with her stunning victory

US Open 2013: Day 6 - Hantuchova completes stunning comeback

Daniela Hantuchova reached her lone US Open quarter final 11 years ago but on Day 6 she moved one step away from equalling that performance with an amazing comeback defeat of Israeli qualifier Julia Glushko.

Out on Court 11 Glushko built a 6-3 5-2 lead and had former World No.5 Hantuchova serving at love-30 in that eighth game. 

Under pressure the 30 year-old Slovak was rock solid and held. It proved to be the first in a series of 8 consecutive games as she first broke the Israeli serving for the match and then went onto level and build a 3-0 double break lead in the decider.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

However having built the lead Hantuchova displayed why she is no longer a fixture in the top 10 and Glushko showed how she had battled through three rounds of qualifying and then beaten Nadia Petrova in round one.

The Israeli broke back twice to get back on serve at 3-3 but was broken again.  Hantuchova could not hold on for 5-3 and lost serve again with Glushko following the break with a hold for 5-4.

Some loose shots from Hantuchova and solid play from the Israeli soon led to two match points for the qualifier.  The more experienced player showed her mettle to save those and then two more later in the game.

Glushko put aside the disappointment with an impressive hold for 6-5 and Hantuchova in turn held to force a tie-break.

The Slovak found some super angles in the breaker to build a commanding 6-2 lead.  She let the first two slip but converted on the third with an emphatic forehand drive volley to clinch a dramatic 3-6 7-5 7-6(7-4) victory.

It is Hantuchova's first last 16 appearance at a major since the 2011 French Open where she hit then World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki off the court 6-1 6-3 in the third round round before falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova. 

With a fourth round meeting with Alison Riske she may well equal that run at the Open 11 years ago but she will need to be a bit less up and down.

Men's singles round-up

The run of another determined qualifier came to an end as Dan Evans' terrific week ended at the hands of 19th seeded Tommy Robredo with the Spaniard coming through 7-6(8-6) 6-1 4-6 7-5 under the lights on the Louis Armstrong stadium.

Again Evans competed superbly and displayed his considerable talents but in the end experience told.  Sadly Dan rushed when he had points to level the match but overall he played extremely well - hopefully he'll be making more appearances in the last 32 of majors in 2014.

Robredo goes onto face five-time champion Roger Federer who took 81 minutes to roast Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-0 6-2 in the Ashe night session.  

Federer's great rival Rafael Nadal continued his unbroken progress but was stretched to 6-4 6-3 6-3 by the solid Croat Ivan Dodig. 

The other main seeds in the bottom half made it through with wins for David Ferrer (4), Richard Gasquet (8) and Milos Raonic (10).

However for the second straight year in round three US No.1 John Isner fell to Philipp Kohlschreiber. The Giant American served to take the match into a fifth but was broken and the German 22nd seed came through 6-4 3-6 7-5 7-6(7-5) to setup a last 16 meeting with Nadal.

Women's singles round-up

Victoria Azarenka and Alize Cornet played a terrific three set battle on the Armstrong arena in a repeat of their Roland Garros third round clash.  Again the Frenchwoman gave it her all and took the opening set but as in Paris the Australian Open champion came through in three 6-7(2-7) 6-3 6-2.

The 2nd seed next faces former World No.1 Ana Ivanovic who edged through 4-6 7-5 6-4 against Christina McHale after the young American served for the match at 5-4 in the second.

Petra Kvitova continues to be extremely frustrating to support as the big hitting 2011 Wimbledon winner faded badly and went down 6-3 6-0 to Alison Riske.

Another favourite of mine Flavia Pennetta had a breakthrough 7-5 6-1 victory over 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova having never beaten the Russian in five previous meetings.  Flavia will have her work out in the last 16 as she faces white hot Simona Halep as the Romanian crushed Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-0.

There was further Italian success as Roberta Vinci and Camila Giorgi setup a fourth round encounter.  Vinci saw off big serving compatriot Karin Knapp while under the lights on Ashe Giorgi hit through 2009 finalist Caroline Wozniacki 4-6 6-4 6-3.

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