Cibulkova, Monfils advance to U.S. Open quarterfinals

NEW YORK (AP)—The U.S. Open welcomed two new faces to the quarterfinals—France’s Gael Monfils and Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

Cibulkova upset 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the fourth round Monday. Monfils held off two set points in the third to defeat fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.

Cibulkova is the lowest-ranked player left in the women’s draw. The 45th-ranked Slovakian was a semifinalist at last year’s French Open but had never been past the third round at Flushing Meadows.

Kuznetsova was the two-time Grand Slam champion in Monday’s match but didn’t look it. The 11th-seeded Russian had 10 double-faults and 42 unforced errors. Kuznetsova reached a second U.S. Open final in 2007 but hasn’t made it beyond the fourth round since.

“I think she plays good, but my level is higher, and I have to win these matches,” Kuznetsova said.

The last three women’s quarterfinalists will be decided later Monday in matches pitting No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki against No. 14 Maria Sharapova; Andrea Petkovic against No. 7 Vera Zvonareva; and No. 31 Kaia Kanepi against No. 15 Yanina Wickmayer, who made last year’s semifinals.