Mladenovic Takes Out Former Champion Kerber in Opening Round Action

August 26, 2019 | By Brian Coleman
Photo credit: Brian Coleman

France’s Kristina Mladenovic knocked out 14th seed and former champion Angelique Kerber at the US Open on Monday, downing the German 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 to secure her spot in the second round. 

Mladenovic, who reached the quarterfinals here back in 2015, fired 48 winners and got the decisive break for a 5-4 lead in the deciding third set to upset Kerber.

Mladenovic moves on to play Fiona Ferro, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Daria Gavrilova Monday afternoon. The loss is the latest in what has been a tough year for Kerber, who lost in the first round of the French Open and the second round at Wimbledon. 

Johanna Konta hung on to defeat Daria Kasatkina in three sets on Court 17. The 16th seeded Konta converted on all three of her break points in the final set to complete the 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory and book her spot in the second round. 

French Open champion and second-seed Ashleigh Barty fought back from a set down to defeat Zarina Diyas in the tournament’s first match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Barty moved on with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win, and will meet American Lauren Davis in the next round after Davis defeated Swedish qualifier Johanna Larsson 7-5, 6-2. 

“I probably would have preferred if it was a little bit more straightforward, but yeah, happy the way we were able to fight through that and find a way after a pretty awful start,” said Barty. “I think I just didn’t give myself a chance in that first set. Sort of appalling; probably made a set’s worth of errors. I think it was just nice to kind of lock down a little bit. It took some time to kind of break her down in the end.”

Former finalist Karolina Pliskova edged Czech qualifier Tereza Martincova 7-6(6), 7-6(3), hitting 35 winners to move through in straight sets. Up next is Georgian qualifier Marian Bolkvadze, who ousted American Bernarda Pera, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. 

“In the end I had a lot of winners, when I saw the statistics,” said Pliskova. “Serve was not great at all. So lost too many of my serves. But I won two tiebreaks, so that’s quite positive.”

The 14th seed and former champion Angelique Kerber at the US Open on Monday, falling to France’s Kristina Mladenovic 


Brian Coleman

 Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com

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