Kanepi Shocks Top-Seed Halep in Flushing Meadows

August 27, 2018 | By Brian Coleman

It didn’t even take until 12:30 p.m. on the opening day of the 2018 U.S. Open before we saw the tournament’s first major upset, as world number one and top-seed Simona Halep was sent packing by world number 44, Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.

In the first main draw match played inside the new Louis Armstrong Stadium, Kanepi powered into a 6-2, 4-0 lead on the French Open champion Halep. The Romanian fought back to bring things to 4-4 in the second set, but was then broken in the ensuing game to present Kanepi with an opportunity to serve out the match.

Kanepi, a quarterfinalist in Flushing Meadows a year ago, fired 26 winners in the one hour and 16 minute match to book her spot in the second round.

“I have always loved being in New York,” Kanepi said to the crowd after her Monday win. “I like the atmosphere. I like being here. I love the courts and the climate, and I think that the courts suit my game really well.”

Kanepi will take on Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann next. Teichmann won 6-3, 6-0 over Dalila Jakupovic on Monday.

Elina Svitolina, the seventh seed, shook off a bad second set to defeat American Sachia Vickery 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 in her first-round contest on Monday. Svitolina will meet the winner of the match between Agnieszka Radwanska and Tatjana Maria.

China’s Qiang Wang knocked out 31st-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-2, 6-2, and Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu won 6-3, 6-3 over American Jennifer Brady, who reached the fourth-round last year, in other early results from Day One in Flushing Meadows.


Brian Coleman
Senior Editor, Long Island Tennis Magazine
Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.
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