MELBOURNE — It was a dismal opening day at the Australian Open for the U.S. women’s contingent with three prominent American stars taking a tumble within the first five hours of play on Monday.
Fifth-seeded Venus Williams gone in an unforgiving 6-3, 7-5 upset performed by Swiss Miss Belinda Bencic, who never before even won a set in their previous four encounters.
The 13th-seeded Sloane Stephens falling 2-6, 7-6 (2) 6-2 to Zhang Shuai of China in her eighth consecutive match failure since winning the 2017 U.S. Open title.
The 10th-seeded Coco Vandeweghe, having spent the last four days in bed with the flu, was erratic in play and testy in personality in a 7-6 (4), 6-2 defeat to Timea Babos of Hungary.
“I did the best I could with what I had today and that’s all I can ask for,” said Vandeweghe, barely able to speak above a whisper. “I’ve seen the doctor, she’s given me some medication that I have no idea what it is, but it’s not working all that well. So here I am, I tried my best."
“It’s life,” she added, when asked to compare this year’s Australian Open performance to last year’s semifinal finish.
To make matters worse, the American men also said good-bye to one of their three seeded players when 16th-seeded John Isner surrendered to 76th-ranked Australian Matthew Ebden, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Considering the undesirable turn of events on this first day, the outcome leaves U.S. tennis fans wondering if any of the remaining American players are in position to make an impact in Melbourne.
Williams, a finalist to sister, Serena, in last year’s Australian Open title match, was a woman of few words after suffering her fourth career first-round loss at Melbourne Park. To be precise, she spoke 159 words in 10 questions posed in the mandatory press conference.
“I think she played well,” said Williams, looking as if she’d like to be anywhere else but where she was sitting. “I don’t think I played a bad match. She just played above and beyond. I just have to give her credit for that.”
She was particularly unhappy to be asked about Serena's health complications — small blood clots — in giving birth to first child, daughter Alexis Olympia.
"Serena is definitely a tough individual," she offered.
A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams was competing in her 77th overall Grand Slam tournament, which is the most major appearances by a woman in the Open Era. This was her 18th Australian Open, and her fourth time losing in the first round in Melbourne (2006, 2014, 2016, 2018).
At 37 years and 212 days old, and the oldest entrant in the women’s draw, Williams is coming off a spectacular 2017 season. While she didn’t increase her title tally beyond 49, she was the only WTA player to reach two Grand Slam finals, which she achieved here and at Wimbledon. She ended last season by playing in the WTA year-end final championship match in Singapore, losing out on the trophy to Caroline Wozniacki.
Williams, however, isn’t starting 2018 where she left off in 2017, and is now 0-2 for her trip Down Under. In a rare decision to play last week’s Sydney tuneup tournament — she hasn’t competed there since the turn of the century — she was taken out in a three-set final by eventual champion Angelique Kerber, the 2016 Australian Open champion.
“Last year is last year,” Williams said on Monday. “This is, like, a new year. You can’t live in the previous year. It’s impossible.”
The 78th-ranked Bencic, who missed five months of action after left wrist surgery last spring, was the more concise player on court, posting only 12 unforced errors to 26 for Williams.
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Williams was up a service break twice in the second set, but immediately surrendered both advantages to the in-form Bencic. In the final game, Williams went from 30-0 to 30-40, and was ousted on the first match point she faced by an unreachable forehand.
“It was amazing, this match,” said the 20-year-old Bencic, who had Roger Federer’s parents sitting in her courtside box during the match. “I think the level was great. She beat me four times before, so I was really happy I took my chance this time. Obviously, I’m just happy to be back playing.”
Stephens, who was sidelined by a foot injury that required surgery from the 2016 Olympics to Wimbledon 2017, has been bothered by a knee injury since winning the U.S. Open. At one point in the summer ahead of her grand showing at the U.S. Open, Stephens was ranked No. 957 in the world. Now, after losing her last six matches of last season, she stands at 0-2 in matches played in 2018.
Stephens was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set against Zhang, but wasn’t able to close out the match in her own favor. Nevertheless, she chose to put on a brave face and a positive outlook despite the defeat.
“I wouldn’t call them tough times,” she said, of not scoring a match victory since the Open. “Everyone is so depressed and so down. It happens to everyone. I’m going to beat someone eventually. I will have the best Instagram picture when I finally snap this losing streak.”
Follow Sandra Harwitt on Twitter @TennisGrapevine.
