ONE AND DONE: HALEP BOUNCED OUT OF 2018 U.S. OPEN BY ESTONIAN KANEPI, DIMITROV ALSO EXITS

Written by: Staff on 27th August 2018

ONE AND DONE: HALEP BOUNCED OUT OF 2018 U.S. OPEN BY ESTONIAN KANEPI, DIMITROV ALSO EXITS

epa06976840 Simona Halep of Romania hits a return to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the first day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Simona Halep of Romania hits a return to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the first day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JOHN G. MABANGLO

By Ricky Dimon

World No. 1 Simona Halep lasted only one match at the U.S. Open. Again.

Halep, who lost to Maria Sharapova in the 2017 first round, got another tough draw and succumbed to 2017 quarterfinalist Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4. Kanepi blasted 26 winners to the Romanian’s nine while advancing in one hour and 16 minutes.

“I love playing here in New York,” the Estonian assured. “I have always loved it. I think the courts suit my game. I like the city. I like the atmosphere in tournaments and in the city, also. And I like the weather: humid and hot.”

Halep certainly does not like New York quite as much. The 26-year-old recently captured her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, but she has never even reached the title match in NYC. She has been past the second round only four times.

“Today I just lost,” Halep admitted. “I didn’t play great, but she played really well. I knew that she can play well here. She played quarterfinals last year. I didn’t find the balance today…. So that’s it.

“I didn’t feel pressure after wining a Grand Slam. No, I didn’t feel that. Today just was not my day. I was actually practicing okay yesterday and two days ago, but that’s it. It’s just a day, and it’s a bad day for me. But also, she deserved to win because she was playing better than me.”

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria hits a return to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the first day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

It was also a bad day for Grigor Dimitrov, who is becoming similarly accustomed to mixing in early slam exits along with his more positive results. Dimitrov lost to Stan Wawrinka in round one of a second consecutive slam (previously at Wimbledon), this time falling 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

“We played already in Wimbledon, so it was a surprise again to play each other,” the Swiss said. “I’m really happy first with the victory, that’s for sure, but (also) with my level in general. I think I have been practicing well. I have been playing some good tournaments–Cincinnati, Toronto…and keep improving there day by day. I arrive here a week early to practice, get a lot of time on the court, and I’m happy with today’s match. I think it’s a great start.”

Wawrinka is joined in the second round by a couple of players who advanced in more dramatic fashion, as both Taylor Fritz and Nikoloz Basilashvili survived five-setters.

Fritz came back from two sets down to oust Mischa Zverev.

Basilashvili beat Aljaz Bedene.

On the women’s side, Venus Williams scraped through a tough three-setter against Svetlana Kuznetsova.