2020 US Open: Venus Williams ousted, Sabalenka-Azarenka to meet in 2nd round derby

Two-time former champion Venus Williams was ousted in the first round of the 2020 US Open on Tuesday. The Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova, seeded 20th in the draw, halted the former world no. 1 after an hour and 49 minutes of play, 6-3, 7-5.

Williams, who turned 40 in June this year, was trying to become the only third woman to win a singles match at the US Open. Her inability to do so was, then, the first time she had crashed out at Flushing Meadows in 22 appearances – which is a record in itself, surpassing Martina Navratilova’s previous best of 21 appearances.

“I just tried to stay focused and just hold my serve. I just tried from the start to be more relaxed. I’m starting to gain my confidence again and feel my shots,” Muchova said, describing the match after her win.

The world no. 26 will take on Poland’s Iga Swiatek. Swiatek upset the 29th-seeded Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-3 in their opening-round match.

2020 US Open: First-round action comes to a close

2017 US Open titlist Sloane Stephens also advanced to the round-of-64. The American defeated Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3, 6-3 in their opener, after a tussle spanning an hour and 13 minutes. This is the first time Stephens has had won a match since the tennis tour un-paused itself after a five-month break on account of the pandemic. Overall, this year, Stephens has a 1-7 win-to-loss record.

Stephens’ second-round opponent will be Belarus’ Olga Govortsova. Govortsova got past the USA’s Asia Muhammad 6-1, 6-2.

In other results, Govortsova’s countrywomen, the fifth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, and Victoria Azarenka have set a derby showdown in the second round.

Sabalenka defeated Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin 7-6(1), 6-4 in 90 minutes. Her Fed Cup teammate, meanwhile, had an easier path into the second round against Austrian Barbara Haas. Azarenka won 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes.

This is the second consecutive year that Sabalenka and Azarenka will be facing off against each other at Flushing Meadows. The two took on each other in the round-of-128 at the 2019 US Open with the younger player claiming a three-set win.

Speaking about their upcoming clash at the 2020 US Open, the former world no. 1 said, “I think it will be a great matchup. Honestly, I would be really excited to have that challenge. We had a really great match last year. It was really high quality. It didn't go my way. I feel like this year is a great opportunity to kind of see where my level is at versus her level. It's going to be a great challenge. She's a great fighter. She's been showing great tennis. I'm really looking forward if that's going to be the matchup.”

Photo Credit: Simon Bruty/USTA

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