Former U.S. Open champion Stephens ousted by Russian qualifier
Aug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Anna Kalinskaya of Russia (left) shakes hands with Sloane Stephens of the United States (right) after a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former champion Sloane Stephens was stunned by Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 6-4 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday after an inconsistent display during which she was unable to find any sort of rhythm.
The American 11th seed, who triumphed here in 2017, fought off two match points but on the third was caught out of position behind the baseline when the Russian ripped a backhand that clipped the net chord and landed in.
Aug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Sloane Stephens of the United States returns a shot against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
"I was playing one good point, one bad point, one good point. The inconsistency doesn't help me at all," said Stephens.
"She did a good job just staying there, keep fighting. She never really let me in. Kudos to her. She executed her game style really well."
Kalinskaya, playing her first career Grand Slam night match and first inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, did not appear intimidated facing Stephens, whose U.S. Open tune-up included a run to the last 16 in Cincinnati.
Aug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Sloane Stephens of the United States returns a shot against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The 20-year-old Russian, who won three qualifying matches to make the main draw, broke Stephens at her first opportunity to pull ahead 5-3 in the first set and never looked back as she went on to secure the biggest win of her young career.
"It feels amazing to win the first match on this court, a subdued Kalinskaya said in her on-court interview. "I just tried to focus and don't think too much about her and think just about my game."
Kalinskaya was only broken once during the match and managed to convert three of her four break point chances.
Aug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Anna Kalinskaya of Russia returns a shot against Sloane Stephens of the United States in a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Up next for Kalinskaya will be American wildcard Kristie Ahn, who stunned Cincinnati runner-up and 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova earlier on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
Aug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Anna Kalinskaya of Russia returns a shot against Sloane Stephens of the United States in a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY SportsAug 27, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Anna Kalinskaya of Russia serves against Sloane Stephens of the United States in a first round match on day two of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
