( CNN ) -- What a difference a slam makes as Sabine Lisicki again found to her cost Friday at the U.S. Open . On the green grass of Wimbledon the popular 23-year-old German swept aside No.1 Serena Williams on the way to the women 's singles final where she lost to Marion Bartoli . Fast forward to the final major of the season on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows and 16th seed Lisicki made a tame third round exit to Russian Ekaterina Makarova , while Bartoli has retired and is reporting the tournament for a television company . Lisicki 's career was place on hold after a nasty fall at the 2009 U.S. Open which saw her depart the court in a wheelchair and with a severe injury to her ankle . After a lengthy rehabilitation , Lisicki has shown glimpses of the form that had her talked of as a successor to the likes of Steffi Graf , culminating in her dream run to the final at Wimbledon . Early exits in two hard court tournaments in the build-up to the U.S. Open were not ideal preparation , but Lisicki came through her opening two matches against Vera Dushevina of Russia and Argentina 's Paula Ormaechea in straight sets . 24th seed Makarova proved a tougher test and was always in the ascendancy in a match lasting a shade over an hour and a half . She closed it out 6-4 7-5 after breaking Lisicki for the third time to move into the last 16 in fine style . It was another grand slam disappointment for Lisicki , who has never reached the fourth round at this level other than at Wimbledon . Earlier , China 's Li Na revenged a 2012 defeat at the U.S. Open when she beat British teenager Laura Robson 6-2 7-5 , while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland also progressed to the fourth round , beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia . Men 's top seed Novak Djokovic was largely untroubled in beating Germany 's Benjamin Becker 7-6 6-2 6-2 to move into the third round . Djokovic saved two sets points as Becker served for the opener at 5-4 before forcing a tiebreaker . The Serbian took it 7-2 and took total command on Arthur Ashe to win in under two hours . `` Becker is a quality player and he should have won the first set . I was fortunate to come out of it , but after that I felt more comfortable on the court , '' said Djokovic . Defending champion Andy Murray of Britain was in action later Friday in a second round match against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina . Murray beat Djokovic in the men 's final at Wimbledon but has struggled to find his best form in hard court warm up tournaments ahead of Flushing Meadows .
Sabine Lisicki exits U.S . to Ekaterina Makarova . Wimbledon finalist loses in straight sets in last 32 clash . Li Na of China avenges 2012 defeat to Laura Robson . Top seed Novak Djokovic eases into men 's third round .