Makarova survives a scare

  NEW YORK — Ekaterina Makarova, a US Open semifinalist here last year, moved into the fourth round by prevailing over 17th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-3, 7-5 Friday. The 13th seeded Russian was trying to serve out her match Friday when her leg suddenly started cramping. With double match point at 6-5 in the second set, she double-faulted then hit a forehand well long. She headed toward her chair and called for a trainer, who came out of the stands to remind Makarova that players can receive treatment for cramping only during changeovers. She then badly mis-hit another forehand to give Svitolina break point. But Makarova settled down to win the next three points and pulled out a 6-3, 7-5 victory. Makarova, who had her right thigh re-wrapped after the seventh game of the second set, later said in an on-court interview that she had never cramped up like that before. "I was so scared," she said. Makarova next faces 40th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic in a quarter of the draw that is wide open after third-seeded Maria Sharapova's withdrawal and several upsets. On Friday, Mladenovic ended the run of "lucky loser" Daria Kasatkina, who took Sharapova's place in the draw, with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. It's the first time Mladenovic has reached a Grand Slam round of 16. — AP