Aussies Gibson, Walton make early US Open exits
Darren Walton |
Donna Vekic has crashed Talia Gibson’s US Open party with a stirring three-set win over Australian tennis’s breakout star.
Gibson rallied from a set and a service break down to look poised to claim her maiden grand slam victory outside Australia before Vekic steadied to post a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win on day one at Flushing Meadows.
The veteran Croat and 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist seemed to be unravelling after blowing a set and 4-1 lead, cursing herself and berating her box as Gibson roared back into the contest.
But Gibson was unable to wrestle back control after failing to convert any of four break-point chances in the second game of the deciding set.
The 22-year-old also had Vekic down 0-40 serving at 4-2, only to miss five straight returns as the Paris Olympics silver medallist held firm to prevail after two hours and 33 minutes.
Five more Australians were scheduled for Sunday (Monday AEST), with Adam Walton also bowing out early.
Walton missed two set points in the third set of a tight 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 7-5 loss to China’s Yibing Wu.
Aleksandar Vukic, up against Japan’s Rei Sakamoto, is the only other Australian in men’s action.
Successful qualifier Storm Hunter plays 11th-seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, Kim Birrell faces Petra Marcinko and rising star Taylah Preston takes on American Alycia Parks.
World No.7 and three-time US Open quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur opens his title quest on Tuesday against Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Tennis Australia.
AAP