US OPEN: DARIA SNIGUR SHOCKS HALEP AS MARINO, ANDREESCU AND MAIA ADVANCE TO 2nd ROUND

Canadian Open champion Simona Halep was one of the first casualties at the ongoing US Open Grand Slam in New York. She succumbed to Grand Slam main debutant Daria Snigur of Ukraine 6-2 0-6 6-4.

Snigur’s father who was in the crowd saw her daughter record her biggest win in her career. The 20 year-old had taken the first with a display of class dominating Simona who struggled to cope with the pace of the Ukrainian.

But the Romanian tennis star realising urgency fought back in the second set, smashing the set 0-6 to quickly overturn the Ukrainian lead. She was impressive losing only six points, obviously the set was one sided in her effort leveling the match.

Halep who reached the semi-final in Wimbledon was back in the third set, but met tough resistance from Daria who left Kyiv prior to the US Open to train in Riga due to the war in her country. Fighting like a warrior, Snigur was clinical to lead the third set 5-1 to the surprise of the crowd including the father dropping just a game.

She sustained the momentum confirming her nerve of toughness to flush off two –time winner Halep, earning her first Tour – level match win and in her first meeting with a top-10 ranked player.

Obviously she barely believed her achievement praising the Romanian for the incredible match. The fans who watched the match were not left out in her appreciation, including her father who watched in disbelief as his hands did rest on his head when the daughter spoke to the crowd.

The World No.124 also extended her victory to the people of Ukraine for their support, her family and her team. Admitting that war is bad but she wants to live in Ukraine.

The 20 year-old will face Canadian Rebecca Marino in round two after polish Magdalena Frech was beaten in two straight sets of 6-2 6-3.

Former Canadian champion Bianca Andreescu will battle Brazil’s Beatriz Haddaad Maia in a match that is already being described to be a tough one considering the rising pedigree of the Brazilian.

Bianca Andreescu’s pace of dominance in the first set against her opponent in the first round should form a concern for the Brazilian. Andreescu did wrap up the set without losing a game. She restored further confidence in her game in the third set, overcoming Tan 4-0 lead in her effort to force a decider fought back to wrap up the march 6-0 3-6 6-1.