MELBOURNE, Australia
Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens were upset early and the bleak opening day for Americans continued at the Australian Open with the women going 1 for 9 and two of the highest-ranked U.S. men joining them as firstround casualties.
In her first match at Rod Laver Arena since losing last year’s final to her sister, Serena, Venus Williams lost her opener to Belinda Bencic 6-3, 7-5 and ensured the title won’t stay in the family.
U.S. Open champion Stephens was the first American to fall Monday, losing 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 to No. 34-ranked Zhang Shuai. She was followed by Williams and No. 10- seeded CoCo Vandeweghe, a semifinalist here and at the U.S. Open last year, who was feeling sick and frustrated in 7-6 (4), 6-2 loss to Timea Babos.
No. 8-seeded Jack Sock, the highest ranked of the American men, lost 6-1, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-3 to Yuichi Sugita and his compatriot John Isner, seeded 16th, lost in four sets to Australian Matt Ebden. U.S. qualifier Kevin King lost in straight sets to No. 15 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
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