Maria Sharapova showed grit, firepower and the ability to come up big when it counted most to whip Justine Henin-Hardenne and capture the US Open in straight sets on Saturday. The 19-year-old Russian defeated world number two Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium by displaying the tenacity normally seen by her more seasoned rival.

Amelie Mauresmo showed grit, fearlessness and poise to stage a dramatic final-set recovery and defeat long-time nemesis Serena Williams in fourth-round action at the US Open on Monday. World number one Mauresmo knocked out the unseeded two-times former champion Williams 6-4 0-6 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal match against Russian Dinara Safina.

Andre Agassi’s glittering career came to a tearful conclusion when he lost in four sets to German qualifier Benjamin Becker in the US Open third round on Sunday. Becker, the world number 112 who is playing just his second grand slam event, sent the 36-year-old Agassi into retirement with a 7-5 6-7 6-4 7-5 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Andre Agassi’s retirement will have to wait a little longer after the eight-times grand slam winner battled to a 6-7 7-6 7-6 6-2 victory over Romania’s Andrei Pavel in the US Open first round on Monday. At times looking like a maestro and others like the 36-year-old he is, Agassi needed three hours and 31 minutes to clinch victory.