Petulant CoCo leads exodus of American players
Print Edition
CoCo Vandeweghe鈥檚 petulant standoff over a shortage of bananas was the low point on a horror day for the United States at the Australian Open yesterday as a procession of American players skidded out of the season鈥檚 first grand slam in the first round.
A miserable day session for America saw US Open champion Sloane Stephens, seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams, men鈥檚 16th seed John Isner and eighth seed Jack Sock, the highest ranked US player in the men鈥檚 draw, exit the tournament.
The evening brought little relief, with defeats for Irina Falconi and Kevin King bringing the tally to 12 Americans sent packing out of the 15 in first-round action.
Vandeweghe was given two code violations during her stormy 7-6(4), 6-2 defeat by Hungarian Timea Babos at the Hisense Arena. The first came after she refused to restart play at the end of the first set until a ball-kid delivered her bananas.
鈥淗ow are they not on court? I mean, come on, that鈥檚 not my fault,鈥 she said during an argument with the chair umpire. Why do I have to play under a different set of rules? I don鈥檛 have to make myself uncomfortable because it鈥檚 ill prepared. I have needs and it鈥檚 not my fault that this court is ill prepared.鈥
The American was docked a point toward the end of the second set after appearing to curse at 51st-ranked Babos.
Vandeweghe told reporters she was not happy about Babos getting 鈥渋n her face鈥 but the Hungarian denied trying to rile her up.
鈥淪he always does that (loses her temper),鈥 Babos said. 鈥淎 couple of rackets are broken every match, this time it was I believe a time violation, but I鈥檓 not sure.
鈥淭he second one I believe was an insult against me. If the umpire heard it then it must have been this.鈥
Vandeweghe became the third of four American women who made the semifinals at last year鈥檚 US Open to fall at the first hurdle at Melbourne Park.
US Open champion Stephens, the 13th seed, was bundled out in three sets by China鈥檚 Zhang Shuai. It was her eighth successive defeat since her maiden grand slam triumph.
Fifth seed Williams, who lost last year鈥檚 final at Melbourne Park to her sister Serena, was beaten in two sets by resurgent Swiss Belinda Bencic. Venus praised her opponent for playing 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥 but was otherwise tight-lipped and sullen during her media duties.
Isner was sent packing in four sets by unfancied local Matthew Ebden while Sock slipped to a 6-1, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3 defeat by 41st-ranked Japanese Yuichi Sugita.
Ryan Harrison was a rare shining light as he battled manfully to defeat Israeli Dudi Sela in a tough five-setter. There was also a dominant victory for Nicole Gibbs and Mackenzie McDonald won a battle of qualifiers.
They were mere scraps on a day when the star spangled banner was left decidedly mangled.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, it鈥檚 a tough sport,鈥 said Sock. 鈥淥bviously, it wasn鈥檛 my day ... it wasn鈥檛 some of the American women鈥檚 day but I guess that it happens and that鈥檚 tennis.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
