Margarita Gasparyan defeated Yulia Putintseva in straight sets to advance to the fourth round of a major for the first time in her young career.

Gasparyan gets off to fast start, hangs on to win first set

Showing no signs of nerves in her first third round at a major, Gasparyan opened the match with a hold to love. She then broke Putintseva's serve, crushing a forehand to take a 2-0 lead. Her lead further increased with a hold to 30, the Russian provided herself with some insurance with her trademark one-handed backhand whipped cross-court, flying past Putintseva for a 4-0 lead.

The Kazakh gained some momentum, breaking Gasparyan's serve at 15 to get on the board and then held to slice the lead in half, now a 4-2 advantage for the teenager. Showing signs of nerves for the first time, Gasparyan's lead was gone, her serve broken again as Putintseva's forehand pushed her behind the baseline, a weak reply all that she can afford and Putintseva was back on serve at 4-3. The Russian responded with a backhand settling in behind Putintseva on her lone break chance of the game, the critical edge needed to take a 5-3 lead. She then served out the set on her second chance, a Putintseva backhand going long. 

Gasparyan starts fast, hangs on late to advance to round of 16

Gasparyan would start the second much the same way she started the first: with a break, Putintseva's backhand skimming just wide. Gasparyan would consolidate her break with a hold to love followed by Putintseva holding to 15, Gasparyan's lead now 2-1. Her lead grew to 3-1, the Russian holding to 30 after losing the first point.

She further asserted herself by claiming an insurance break, Putintseva looping a forehand well wide after being pushed well behind the baseline. Gasparyan cracked, losing her serve in a nine-point game that saw Putintseva take her break on her second chance. She held to 30, the score new 4-3, Gasparyan now under pressure. The teenager held her serve to 30, now one game from the round of 16. Putintseva duly held after her serve was taken to deuce. At 5-4, Gasparyan stepped up to serve for the match and proceeded to close things out, sealing it with an ace on match point, winning the set 6-4. 

Serena next

Gasparyan will next face top seed and defending champion Serena Williams.

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John Lupo
I am a writer and photographer. I have two Instagrams: @lupojohn1 is my personal account while @dslr_transit_photos is my photography account as I do transit photography in my hometown of New York City.