Garbine Muguruza was a shocking second-round casualty at the U.S. Open tennis tournament Wednesday.
The world's third-ranked player and French Open champion was upstaged by Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets in Flushing Meadows, a second consecutive disappointment in a grand slam event. Muguruza suffered a second-round exit from Wimbledon.
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Muguruza's poor play was marked by 38 unforced errors in the 7-5, 6-4 loss.
The Spaniard led 4-2 during the first set against Sevastova and served for it in the 10th game, only to drop three straight. Sevastova went up 4-0 in the second before nerves kicked in, then broke Muguruza's serve to seal victory and a third-round meeting with Kateryna Bondarenko.
THIRD ROUND BECKONS FOR KERBER
While Muguruza packed her bags, No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber advanced to the next round at the year's final grand slam.
The Australian Open champion and Rio Olympics silver medalist defeated Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) in the second round.
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Kerber appeared on course for a dominant victory at Louis Armstrong Stadium, having outplayed her opponent to move into a 6-2, 4-1 lead in hot New York conditions. But the German suffered an uncharacteristic slump to allow Lucic-Baroni — whose own erratic performance was highlighted by 37 winners and 55 unforced errors — back into the match to force a decider.
Kerber regained her composure, though, and booked her place in the third round in a time of 1 hour, 32 minutes.
Fellow seeds Roberta Vinci, Madison Keys, Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina and Belinda Bencic also emerged from Round 2.
No. 7 Vinci, last year's finalist, saw off Christina McHale 6-1, 6-3, while eighth-seeded Keys crushed Kayla Day 6-1, 6-1.
Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, overcame Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, Svitolina outlasted Lauren Davis 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and Bencic trumped Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-2.
MORE U.S. WOES FOR KUZNETSOVA VS. WOZNIACKI
It has been a testing year for former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, as poor form and injuries have seen her plummet down the rankings to 74.
A second-round encounter against ninth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova appeared a daunting task, and at 4-0 down in the first set, the situation was bleak for Wozniacki. However, the Dane — a two-time U.S. Open runner-up — battled back for a 6-4, 6-4 victory, a reward for an aggressive approach as 24 winners outweighed 17 unforced errors.
For Kuznetsova it marked further disappointment after she was beaten by Wozniacki at the 2009 and 2011 U.S. Opens.
WILLIAMS SISTERS HEADLINE DAY 4
World No. 1 Serena continues her quest for a 23rd major with a clash against Vania King on Thursday, while sister Venus faces Julia Goerges. fifth seed Simona Halep will meet Lucie Safarova and fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska is to play Naomi Broady.
Omnisport's Peter Hanson contributed to this report.