Sharapova books Capra meeting
September 03, 2010 12:25:17 UK
Maria Sharapova is set to face 18-year-old Beatrice Capra at the US Open after securing her place in the third round at Flushing Meadows.
Capra is competing in her first Grand Slam.14th seed Sharapova beat Iveta Benesova 6-1 6-2 in just 66 minutes in the second round to set up a last-32 clash with home favourite Beatrice Capra, who earlier put out France's Aravane Rezai, the 18th seed.
In the third round last year Sharapova, the 2006 champion, came up against a 17-year old Melanie Oudin and lost in three sets as the youngster went on to reach the quarter-finals.
This time the 23-year-old Russian will take on Capra for a place in the last 16 after the 18-year-old, who is making her main tour debut in New York, made the most of claiming a place in the tournament by winning an eight-woman USTA wild card play-off.
Match prices for the third round clash has Sharapova fancied at 1.015 to reach the last 16 while Capra can be backed at 13.00.
Capra, ranked a lowly 371st in the world, admitted: "Melanie is such an inspiration to me. Last year I watched every match of hers.
"I played her the year before in the juniors and then there she was, making the quarter-finals of the US Open.
"I don't even want to think about playing Sharapova right now," Capra added.
"But it would be so amazing if I got to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium. I can't believe that I just won my first two matches here.
"I'm just overwhelmed, I'm so excited. I was so nervous going out there but I had a lot of support and I think that helped me get through today."
Sharapova, whose career has been disrupted by a serious shoulder injury, said: "It's really nice to be on court and go out there and not have to worry about anything but having to win.
"At this point last year I am sure I had the same feelings but when you look back you know you were not quite there, your game was not there and you were not ready physically."
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki, who could face Capra in the fourth round, wasted no time in reaching the last 32, brushing aside Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei 6-0 6-0 in just 47 minutes.
Wozniacki, who lost to Kim Clijsters in last year's final, has dropped just two games in her first two matches, but believes she already has plenty of tough matches under her belt after compiling a 14-1 win-loss record in four events since Wimbledon.
"I've been playing really great tennis, I'm feeling good so no worries," Wozniacki said.
"It's just about winning and getting through to the next rounds. As long as I win it doesn't really matter what the match looks like."
Wozniacki comes against Yung-Jan Chan in the third round, it's 1.02 that Wozniacki wins the match while Yung-Jan Chan can be backed at 12.00.
US Open 2010 - Women's outright
Kim Clijsters 2.75
Maria Sharapova 1213.00
Caroline Wozniacki 2.10
Venus Williams 6.00
Others available on site
View all Tennis betting