Swiatek bundled out of US Open, Djokovic marches on

NEW YORK :Iga Swiatek's U.S. Open title defence and reign as world number one came to an end on Sunday with a shock loss to Jelena Ostapenko, while Novak Djokovic continued his march towards a 24th Grand Slam crown.

Swiatek's 3-6 6-3 6-1 fourth-round defeat brought the day to a stunning conclusion but it was not a surprise to some, with Ostapenko extending her domination over the Pole having won all four career meetings.

"I had nothing to lose today," said the 20th seeded Latvian. "I knew she's a great player and she's very, very consistent, especially last few years.

"I also knew she would have all the pressure.

"I was just trying to make it hard for her and to play my game and to fight until the very last point."

Swiatek's defeat means a new U.S. Open women's champion will be crowned next Saturday, and when the world rankings are updated on Sept. 11 it will be Aryna Sabalenka's name at the top of the list.

There will be a new men's world number one as well, with Djokovic retaking top spot, but the Serb's primary goal remains a fourth U.S. Open title that would see him match Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams.

The 36-year-old took another confident step towards that objective on Sunday, easing past Croatia's Borna Gojo 6-2 7-5 6-4 to reach the Flushing Meadows quarter-finals for the 13th time.

'EXCITING TIME'

Until the late-night Swiatek drama, the day had belonged to local hopes with five U.S. players competing in eight matches on the two steamy show courts.

It has been two decades since Andy Roddick became the last American man to win the U.S. Open, and 2017 since Sloane Stephens hoisted the women's trophy, but as the season's final Grand Slam enters its second week there is a belief both finals next weekend could