Reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza advanced and British seventh seed Johanna Konta was ousted Monday at the US Open as Maria Sharapova’s long-awaited return to grand slam tennis neared.
Spanish third seed Muguruza defeated American Varvara Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3 for her first triumph in Arthur Ashe Stadium, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on the first day of New York hardcourt matches.
Muguruza, last year’s French Open champion, can reach the US Open third round for the first time Wednesday by defeating China’s Duan Ying-Ying.
Varvara Lepchenko congratulates Garbine Muguruza after their first round match of the US Open. Photo: AP
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“Very happy I’m in the second round,” said Muguruza. “I’ve been here so many times and I’ve never done very well. I will try again and hopefully it will happen.”
Serbia’s 78th-ranked Aleksandra Krunic upset Australian-born Konta 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, ending her slim hopes at taking the world number one ranking at the tournament.
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“I’m happy I had everything together and was able to put some serves in,” said Krunic, whose deepest slam run was to the last 16 here in 2014.
