Osaka falls to Bencic while Vekic, Mertens win at US Open win

Top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka was ousted from the US Open by Belinda Bencic while Croatian Donna Vekic erased a match point to join the Swiss 13th seed in a quarter-final matchup.

Bencic's 7-5, 6-4 triumph, her WTA-best sixth over a top-five foe this year, ensured 21-year-old Japanese star Osaka will fall from atop the rankings next week and won't become the first repeat US Open winner since Serena Williams in 2014.

"The challenge cannot be bigger against Naomi," Bencic said. "I had to be at the top of my game and I'm really pleased how well I handled my nerves at the end."
"I guess just being aggressive."
"I'd like to reach higher rounds. That's definitely what I'll aim for in Australia."
"She was serving for the match. She had match point. I just kept fighting and believing I could win. It feels pretty amazing."
- Mertens on a roll -
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"I try to improve every time. I try to invest in my game. It's coming out this week and hopefully I can go much further than this."
"It wasn't easy," Andreescu said. "I made sure to work on my passing shots during practice and it worked in the first and third sets. I'm glad I kept my cool at the end."
"The knee was a little bit annoying in the movement aspect but that was something I should have overcome."