HIGHLIGHTS of the First Week of US OPEN 2018

It has been a great week in New York. The last Grand Slam of the season US Open has it own new stars and early shocking exits.

As today the final group of  4th round matches will be played , let's remember who are the first group of Quarter - Finalists of this year's US Open are:

Serena Williams vs Karolina Pliskova
Sloane Stephens vs Anastajia Sevastova
Rafa Nadal vs Dominic Thiem
Juan Martin Del Potro Vs John Isner

I think when it comes to Quarter Finals, there is no easy match. Also today's 4th round matches including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and a new star Aryn Sabalenka will be pretty though.

Most important highlights of the first week:

• World No. 1 Simona Halep was out of the tournament at Day 1 by Estonian Kaie Kanepi. Big big shock.
• Roland Garros Bans Serena William's wakanda inspired cat-suit. President made a statement that players must respect the game and place. This created a big controversy. In my opinion, this is complete nonsense. This outfit designed for medical reasons to prevent blood cloth for Serena Williams. Sexism with racism really makes me sick. Below you will see that in 1985 Wimbledon, Anna White wore an outfit very similar. 

Tennis Legend and big advocate for women tennis Billie Jean King backs Serena Williams so strongly, she said : The policing of women’s bodies must end. The “respect” that’s needed is for the exceptional talent ⁦Serena Williams⁩ brings to the game. Criticizing what she wears to work is where the true disrespect lies.

• Later in the week, French player Alize Cornet got a code violation for changing her shirt on the court. She noticed that she wore it backwards and changed it in 10 seconds. But it did not matter for the chair umpire. As we witness for years, male players can change their t-shirts on court, sitting in their chairs for minutes, nothing happens. But how come a female player can do it even for 10 seconds!! No way. After this controversial incident US Open made a statement that Alize Cornet will not get any code of violation and female players can also change their t-shirts on court. Good call!

Alize Cornet changing her shirt.

• Last week one of the most strangest thing I ever seen in tennis court happened. One of the best umpires of tennis, Mohamed Lahyani gave a pep talk to Nick Kyrgios during a match. It was a scandal. Actually I never seen such a thing before. Most of the people gone mad. US Officials made a statement that Lahyani tried to learn if Krygios had a medical need or something. But video footage is pretty clear that he tried to encourage him to play better. Finally Krygios won the match and opponent French player made a statement about it. It was very caotic, complicated and troubled situation for both sides. Lahyani did not get a serious punishment for this. 

Umpire Lahyani talking to Kyrgios

• For the 30th time, Williams sisters played against each other. It was a very special moment for tennis world. I watched it with my sister at 3.a.m. in the morning as we have followed them for 20 years. Williams sisters contribute a lot to women tennis. They raise a bar high and make everyone better. I really love and respect them both. One of the person needs a big big credit is their father Richard Williams. Last week I watched some videos related Williams sisters and their father. It was pretty inspirational that Richard Williams is such a visionary and fearless man. I watched videos how Richard Williams trained them, built confidence in them, made them believed in themselves. I think this is the hardest part of a good coaching. Serena Williams vs Venus Williams 3rd round match was not only a tennis match but also witness a great part of a tennis history. Serena played his best game since her returns, as she stated. Serena also said that Venus Williams is the only reason that she still is here. Sisterhood. Greatness. Love.
  

These are the highlights of last week briefly. Today's 4th round matches are also though and looks pretty exciting. Below you will find the list for matches today. Tomorrow Quarter Finals starting. 

Madison Keys vs Dominika Cibulkova

Novak Djokovic vs Joao Sousa

Carla Suarez Navarro vs Maria Sharapova

Roger Federer vs John Millman

Kei Nishikori vs Philipp Kohlscreiber

Aryn Sabalenka vs Naomi Osaka

Marin Cilic vs David Goffin

Marketa Vondrousova vs Lesia Tsurenko

**Photos: Mostly from US Open Official Instagram and Twitter Pages. 

    Some of them anonymous.