Wowsa! After one day my U.S. Open bracket is already busted! (You can see my WTA and ATP picks
here and
here.) THREE Top 10 seeds (all in 3-time defending champion
Serena Williams half of the draw) fell in the first round. And this was after the news came late last night that #3 seed
Maria Sharapova (also in Serena's half) was
withdrawing from the tournament with a leg injury!
Ana Ivanovic(7), Karolina Pliskova(8), Carla Suarez Navarro(10) all fell to lower ranked opponents, thus clearing the path for Serena to win her 7th major title. Other notable losses were
Sloane Stephens (losing to fellow American
Coco Vandeweghe), 2-time major champion
Svetlana Kuznetsova and former World #1
Jelena Jankovic. Venus Williams barely escaped being included in the carnage when she blew two match points in the 3nd set tiebreaker but thanks to an early break in the 3rd set, she was able to keep her nose in front and get a 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3 win over
Monica Puig.
The biggest upset was on the men's side with #4 seed (and
2014 US Open finalist)
Kei Nishikori falling to talented Frenchman
Benoit Paire after failing to win two match points in the 4th set and then losing a tight 5th set. The other finalist, defending champion
Marin Cilic won his first round match rather easily, and World #1
Novak Djokovic put on a frightening display by dispatching Joao Sousa of Brasil in 71 minutes while losing only 3 games in the process.
Don't think the Nishikori loss was totally unexpected. It was the one match on the men's side which I figured had the greatest chance of upset. Remember, Kei pulled out of Cincy, and was ailing in Canada the week before. Still not playing to his full potential.
ReplyDeleteA few weeks off will be welcome I'm sure.
As to C.S.N. losing on any surface not called clay is not necessarily an upset!