WUHAN, China: US Open winner Sloane Stephens suffered a shock defeat at the hands of China’s Wang Qiang in the first round of the Wuhan Open on Monday, hours after fellow Flushing Meadows finalist Madison Keys tumbled out.
Stephens, the 14th seed, lost 6-2, 6-2 in her first WTA event since her surprise victory against Keys in New York.
Despite a strong fight by Stephens in the second set, Wang — spurred on by the home crowd in the 15,000-capacity stadium — proved too strong for the 24-year-old American.
Keys also crashed out at the first hurdle in the hot and steamy Chinese city, losing to US qualifier Varvara Lepchenko after struggling to overcome a longstanding wrist injury.
The 22-year-old American 10th seed fell 6-2, 7-6 in what was also her first WTA tournament since the Flushing Meadows final.
Keys, the world number 12, called a medical timeout early in the second set and looked close to tears as she examined her left wrist, which has twice needed surgery in the past.
Keys had chances to level the match in the second set but Lepchenko saved two set points to hold at 5-5, before taking the tie-break 7-4.
Lepchenko, ranked 79 in the world, will play either Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands or Romanian Monica Niculescu in the second round.
Wang, ranked 57, will play Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
— AFP
Wuhan Open results
First round
Qiang Wang (CHN) bt Sloane Stephens (USA x14) 6-2, 6-2
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x9) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-4, 7-5
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) bt Madison Keys (USA x10) 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)
Elise Mertens (BEL) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
Darya Kasatkina (RUS) bt Alison Riske (USA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
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