Sharapova crashes at US Open to birthday girl Suarez Navarro

Maria Sharapova was knocked out of the US Open in the fourth round on Monday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Spanish birthday girl Carla Suarez Navarro who inflicted the Russian's first ever night-time loss at the tournament.

Sharapova, the 2006 champion who was trying to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012, hit 38 unforced errors and dropped serve six times.

The defeat ended the former world number one's perfect record of 23 wins -- 22 of them on Arthur Ashe Stadium -- in night sessions at Flushing Meadows.

Suarez Navarro, who celebrated her 30th birthday Monday, was a quarter-finalist in New York in 2013.

"Maria has played here at night many times so I knew I needed to be aggressive, focussed and play solid," said the 30th seeded Spaniard after clinching a second win in six meetings with Sharapova.

"I told myself to run and fight -- that's the way I can play really good tennis." She will face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals.

"Madison is from the United States so I guess all the crowd will be for her.

"I have played her a few times. She has a great serve and plenty of experience on this court."
- 'Break a leg' -
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"When I was a break down in the final set I thought I would even break a leg if needed so I could get to every ball."