Top seed Karolina Pliskova crashes out of US Open as Caroline Garcia pulls off big shock

Top seed Karolina Pliskova became the biggest casualty of this year’s US Open so far as she was dumped out at the second-round stage by Caroline Garcia of France.
Pliskova’s 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) defeat further obliterated a women’s field which was shorn of six of the world’s top 10 before it started – and left American Sofia Kenin as the highest seed standing.
The 2016 finalist made a dismal start as she fell a double break behind to 26-year-old Garcia, a player who has struggled to live up to initial expectations and sunk from a career high world ranking of four to her current 50.
WHAT A WIN!
Caroline Garcia pulls off the biggest upset of this year’s #USOpen pic.twitter.com/4boTUcCq5R
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020
Pliskova produced a single winner in the opening set and fell a break down in the second before belatedly rallying, breaking back and fashioning two set points on the Garcia serve at 5-4.
But just when Garcia showed signs of the kind of wobble that has hampered her career, she hauled herself back to force a tie-break, and swept through it in style much to her evident delight.
Garcia said: “It was very close to being a third set and if so I was ready. When I got broken in the second set I didn’t do anything really bad, and I had to stay focused and aggressive.”

Varvara Gracheva produced one of the most stunning comebacks in Grand Slam history when she came back from 6-1 5-1 down to beat 30th seed Kristina Mladenovic.
All. Time. Comeback.
All. Time. Comeback.Down 6-1, 5-1, and four match points, 20-year-old 🇷🇺 Varvara Gracheva rallies to stun Mladenovic 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qO9ZLdC33e
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020
The 20-year-old from Russia, playing at her first major championship, saved four match points before taking the second set on a tie-break.
France’s Mladenovic promptly crumbled as Gracheva completed a remarkable 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 victory.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer sends his fans into a frenzy with Twitter post ahead of his return to action
Roger Federer fans are counting down to his return to action in Doha next week and his tweet teasing his return instantly became a big hit.
-
Tennis News
Iga Swiatek’s perfect week as she claims her second WTA title
Iga Swiatek won her second career WTA title with victory over Belinda Bencic in the final of the Adelaide International.
-
News
Jamie Murray says quarantine threat on tour means players must be ready to adapt
The doubles specialist plans to travel to tournaments in Mexico and Miami next month without knowing what to expect on arrival.
-
Tennis News
Battle of the Brits event is back and this time with spectators
The Battle of the Brits events were a huge success during the Covid-19 crisis and now they are set to return with spectators.
-
Tennis Features
The only way is up for Naomi Osaka as she looks to replicate hard-court success on clay and grass
Oli Jefford on the world being Naomi Osaka’s oyster.
-
Kevin Palmer
Britain’s strength in depth in doubles highlights quality of structure
British tennis may be wondering who can replace Andy Murray, but they have a very different story to tell in the doubles arena.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal pulls out of his next event due to ‘ongoing’ back problem
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the ABN…
-
Tennis News
Lleyton Hewitt to be inducted into International Tennis Hall Of Fame
Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt is the latest player who will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
-
Tennis Features
Five of the best men’s matches at the Australian Open featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rafael Nadal, and more
The matches that made us sit up and take note.
-
Australian Open
Five of the best women’s matches at Australian Open featuring Naomi Osaka vs Garbine Muguruza, and more
Five of the best women’s singles matches at the 2021 Aus Open.