Maaya Rajeshwaran, Antonina Sushkova stun 4th seeds to storm US Open junior semis

Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi NEW YORK CITY: Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Ukraine’s Antonina Sushkova scored another upset on Thursday when they shocked the fourth-seeded Russian combination of Felitsata Dorofeeva-Rybas and Anna Pushkareva 6-4, 6-4 in 64 minutes to reach the US Open junior doubles semifinals.It was another clean performance by the Indian-Ukrainian duo, who knocked out Czech fifth seeds Jana Kováčková and Kateřina Zajíčková in the second round.Maaya and Sushkova, both 17, were particularly strong on serve, with the duo winning 70% of first serve points, 23 of 33, and saving seven of the eight break points they faced. They hit four aces and 21 winners, converting three of the six break points they won. More importantly, the key points counted despite trailing the Russians 58-59 in total points scored.Spain-based Coimbatore-based Maaya has worked with different players in the two previous majors where she played doubles this year, teaming up with American Thea Frodin at Wimbledon where they reached the quarterfinals and Australia’s Renee Alame at the Australian Open.Next up for Maaya and Sushka are American twins Kristina and Annika Penick. The identical Peničkova twins, who will turn 17 on Friday, won the girls’ doubles title at the Australian Open in January.