Maria Sharapova made a fairytale comeback to Grand Slam tennis by beating second seed Simona Halep in the first round of 2017 US Open. Sharapova made a competitive comeback on the Grand Slam front after serving a 15 months ban for a banned blood booster meldonium.
The 30-year-old Russian was handed a ban after the 2016 Australian Open. She defeated Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on the opening day of the final Grand Slam of the year.
Sharapova played her first match on return in April this year but was denied the wild card entry for the French Open. Sharapova suffered a wrist injury before the US Open and only played one hard court surface match before entering the tournament. She extended her winning streak against the world number two to 7-0.
The former US Open winner is currently ranked 146th in the world. She was allowed the wild card entry and she grabbed this opportunity with both hands. This win over Halep will boost Sharapova’s confidence going into the tournament.
Sharapova was full of energy during the match cheering her sublime shot-making with screams and fist pumps. Sharapova wore a black glittery black dress, the same combination she wore nine years ago when she lifted the US Open trophy.
Sharapova last played a Grand Slam match last year in the Australian Open. She lost to Serena Williams in the quarter final. After the match point, she expressed her joy and fell on her knees with tears in her eyes.
In a post match interview she said, “I just thought this was another day, another opportunity, another match but this was so much more, You sometimes wonder why you put in all the work and this is exactly why. “You never know what you’re going to feel until you win that match point, It was so worth it.”
She further added, “It’s prime time baby, I love it.”
Watch her reaction after winning the match.
“This girl has a lot of grit and she’s not going anywhere,” @MariaSharapova after her win over (2) Halep tonight.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/UAyA9hyBoi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2017
Another Upset in the women’s single was the ouster of the British seventh seed Johanna Konta. She lost the match against 78th rank Serbian Aleksandra Krunic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Reigning women’s Wimbledon champion Gabrine Muguruza won her first round match in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. Home favorite Venus Williams survived a scare in the first round after dropping the second set. She won the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to progress to the next round.
Caroline Wozniacki also progressed to the second round as she won her match in straight sets 6-1, 7-5.
In men’s singles, Australia’s Bernard Tomic crashed out of the tournament, he lost the match to Giles Muller 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Alexander Zverev and his brother Mischa Zverev also advanced to the next round. A. Zverev won his match 7-6(11-9), 7-5, 6-4. M. Zverev beat American Kwiatkowski 7-6(7-5), 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Another American Sam Querrey won his opening match in straight sets against Giles Simon. The big serving American won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.