World number one Dinara Safina and three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the US Open at the hands of teen titans on Saturday, aiding fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova's title bid.
Petra Kvitova, a 19-year-old Czech who won her first WTA title in January at Hobart, and US giant-killer Melanie Oudin, two weeks shy of her 18th birthday, became the darlings of Flushing Meadows after their third-round shockers.
Kvitova, ranked 72nd, saved three match points in the 12th game of the final set and eliminated Safina 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5).
"I'm very happy. It was amazing," said Kvitova, her voice cracking with emotion. "Second set I was very down. I was not focused. It was terrible. After that I concentrated on every ball and I won." Safina will remain atop the rankings after the Open but is still searching for a first Grand Slam title and a way to play her best when it matters most.
"Third set, come back from down again having everything in my hands and just phhhhhwww," Safina said. "She played some good points but still I let it go away again from my side. Three match points and I didn't do anything on them.
"Disappointing. Very disappointing."
Oudin stunned former world number one Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium by holding serve in the final game after six consecutive service breaks to book a quarter-final berth against Russian 13th seed Nadia Petrova. "I still feel like I had my chances even though it wasn't my best day," said Sharapova. "When you let those chances go, it's just frustrating."
Reigning French Open champion and sixth seed Kuznetsova dispatched Israel's Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-1, to become the highest remaining seed in her half of the draw with dangerous Sharapova also gone.
Oudin followed her upset of former world number one Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon with a second-round US Open ouster of fourth seed Elena Dementieva and added Sharapova to her victims list.
"I once again proved to myself that I can compete with these top girls. If I believe in myself and my game, then I can beat them." Sharapova, who returned from right shoulder surgery in May, double faulted 21 times and committed 63 unforced errors, 19 more than Oudin, who converted on only 8-of-26 break-point chances.
Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open winner, plays Danish ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki - who beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-2 - for a last-eight spot against Oudin or Petrova, who ousted China's Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-1.
Argentina's Gisela Dulko ousted Kazak Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-4, and will next face Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko, who eliminated Australian qualifier Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Women's singles collated results
3rd round:
Nadia Petrova (RUS x13) bt Zheng Jie (CHN x21) 6-4, 6-1
-- Gisela Dulko (ARG) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 6-3, 6-4
-- Melanie Oudin (USA) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x29) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
-- Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt Sara Errani (ITA) 6-3, 6-4
-- Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x6) bt Shahar Peer (ISR) 7-5, 6-1
-- Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) bt Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4
-- Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x9) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM x24) 6-3, 6-2
-- Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt Dinara Safina (RUS x1) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5).