Former world number one Simona Halep was knocked out of the US Open in the first round on Monday, losing to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur.
The 124th-ranked Snigur, making her Grand Slam main draw debut, won 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 against the two-time major winner who came into New York having won the prestigious Toronto title.
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Snigur, wearing a ribbon in the colours of Ukraine on her shirt, will face Magdalena Frech of Poland or Canada’s Rebecca Marino for a place in the last 32.
She held her nerve on Louis Armstrong Stadium after seeing a 5-1 lead slip away in the final set before taking the tie on a third match point and breaking down in tears.
MILLMAN BUNDLED OUT
Australian star John Millman has been dumped out of the US Open by Emilio Nava in a five-set tussle.
American wildcard Nava overcame Millman 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-1 to book a spot in the second round against Andy Murray.
It’s a sad exit for the 33-year-old Aussie, who made it all the way to the quarter finals at Flushing Meadows in 2018 which included a fourth-round victory over Roger Federer.
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MURRAY MARKS DECADE TRIUMPH WITH CRUISY VICTORY
Andy Murray marked the 10th anniversary of his maiden Grand Slam triumph with an impressive US Open straight sets win over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on Monday.
The 35-year-old Murray defeated the 24th seed 7-5, 6-3, 6-3, showing no signs of recent cramping problems which plagued his hardcourt summer.
“It felt like five sets,” said Murray after his first straight sets victory at the Slams since Wimbledon in 2017.
“They were very tricky conditions, very hot and humid. Just really happy to get through that one.” Murray won the first of his three Grand Slams at the US Open in 2012, ending Britain’s 76-year wait for a men’s champion at the majors.
“It seems like a long time ago when I won here. A lot has happened in my career since then but it was huge moment for me.”
CHINESE STAR’S WILD 63-YEAR FIRST
Wu Yibing on Monday became the first Chinese man in 63 years to win a singles match at a Grand Slam when he knocked 31st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili out of the US Open Wu, 22, triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round, firing nine aces in his 31 winners past his Georgian opponent.
Mei Fu Chi, at Wimbledon in 1959, was the last Chinese man to win a match at the majors.
Wu, ranked 174 and who came through qualifying, is also the first Chinese man to win a US Open singles match since Cheng Guy in 1935.
Wu was the 2017 junior champion in New York but his professional career has been dogged by injuries and he was sidelined completely from March 2019 until January 2022.
He was ranked a lowly 1,869 in March but has now won 14 successive matches.
MEDVEVDEV’S TITLE DEFENCE OFF TO FLYING START
Daniil Medevedev launched the defence of his US Open crown on Monday with a straight sets victory over lowly ranked American Stefan Kozlov.
World number one Medvedev, bidding to become the first man to successfully defend the US Open since Roger Federer in 2008, eased into the second round with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win in 2hrs 1min.
Victory was sweet for Medvedev, who revealed he had regularly struggled to beat Kozlov when the two played at junior level.
“He was almost impossible to beat,” said the Russian, citing one encounter where his opponent “destroyed me.” “I was happy to get my revenge today,” Medvedev added.
