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Bencic sends Venus packing on bleak day for Americans

Bencic sends Venus packing on bleak day for Americans

January 15, 2018 | 11:35 PM
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland celebrates after winning her first round Australian Open match against Venus Williams (right) yesterday. (Reuters)
Venus Williams led a slew of seeds out of the Australian Open in a dark day for American players yesterday.Williams,who lost in the final to sister Serena last year, was stunned by Swissstar Belinda Bencic, fresh from winning the Hopman Cup with RogerFederer.The seven-time Grand Slam winner, in her 77th major,struggled against a player who had never before beaten her to go down6-3, 7-5 and deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names.Itis the first time since 1997 that there will be neither of the Williamssisters in the second round, with Serena not playing after giving birthto her first child.“I don’t think I played a bad match. She just played above and beyond,” said 37-year-old Williams, seeded five.Bencic, 20, said featuring with Federer at the Hopman Cup had helped a lot, with the Swiss legend giving her advice and tips.“Ithink all the week it was so great learning from him on the court oroff the court,” she said, adding she spoke to him briefly after hermatch and he “was very happy for me”.Second seeded CarolineWozniacki also comfortably progressed with a straight sets win overRomanian Mihaela Buzarnescu as she searches for a maiden Grand Slamcrown.Also out of the opening Grand Slam of the year is Americanbig-hitter Coco Vandeweghe, the 10th seed and a semi-finalist last year.Andthe US misery was compounded on the men’s side with eighth seed JackSock toppled by Japan’s Yuichi Sugita and 16th-seed John Isner sent homeby Australian Matthew Ebden.Other seeded casualties included SouthAfrica’s 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson, who was bundled out a in afive-set thriller by Britain’s Kyle Edmund. Third seed Grigor Dimitrovsurvived, as did volatile Australian Nick Kyrgios, who collected a codeviolation for swearing at the crowd.Learning curve Seven-timeGrand Slam winner Williams, in her 77th major, struggled against aplayer who had never before beaten her to go down 6-3, 7-5 and deprivethe tournament of one of its biggest names.It is the first timesince 1997 that there will be neither of the Williams sisters in thesecond round, with Serena not playing after giving birth to her firstchild.“I don’t think I played a bad match. She just played above and beyond,” said the 37-year-old.Bencic, 20, said featuring with Federer at the Hopman Cup had helped a lot, with the Swiss legend giving her advice and tips.“Ithink all the week it was so great learning from him on the court oroff the court,” she said, adding she spoke to him briefly after hermatch and he “was very happy for me”.Vandeweghe slumped out toHungary’s Timea Babos 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 and revealed afterwards she hadbeen bedridden with flu for four days.With Stephens also departing,to China’s Zhang Shuai, it was a calamitous day for the United States,in stark contrast to the last Grand Slam of 2017, when all three of themmade the semis at the US Open.It left the women’s draw moreunpredicable than ever, which was good news for French Open championJelena Ostapenko, who saw off Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-4.Theseventh seed raced through the first set on Rod Laver Arena against theveteran Italian who was bizarrely wearing a back brace on the outside ofher shirt, before a tougher second set.“I knew before the matchthat it’s not going to be easy. She’s very experienced player and she’svery long time on tour,” said the Latvian. Fourth seeded UkrainianElina Svitolina, who won the lead-up Brisbane International afterpicking up five WTA Tour titles last year, was another to stay in thehunt.Also into the next round was German 12th seed Julia Goerges,who won the lead-up Auckland Classic and is now on a 15-match unbeatenstreak having ended 2017 with victories at Moscow and Zhuhai.
January 15, 2018 | 11:35 PM