Chinese eighth seed Li Na became the first major upset victim at the US Open yesterday
Chinese eighth seed Li Na became the first major upset victim at the US Open yesterday.
Li, the highest Chinese seed in Grand Slam history, lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko. The Australian Open semi-finalist had not lost a Grand Slam opener since the 2006 Australian Open.
Li said: "It was sad to lose in the first round. I just have to forget everything and practice again and hope I come back."
Li breezed through the first set in 31 minutes but wilted in the afternoon heat while Bondarenko, ranked 59th, showed the form that made her a US Open quarter-finalist last year for her best career Grand Slam showing. "It was so hot," Li said. "I felt good in the first set. The second set, I felt like I died. The energy just faded."
Other Results
A Rezai bt M Rybarikova 7-6, 7-6; S Kuznetsova bt K Date-Krumm 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; B Capra bt K Sprem 6-1, 6-3; Y Wickmayer bt A Kudryavtseva 6-1, 6-2; A Radwanska bt AP Santonja 6-4, 6-3.
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