2014 US Open quarterfinalist Belinda got this year’s tournament off to a running start with an overwhelming win over Bulgaria’s Sesil Karatantcheva. The No. 12 seed wasted little time bolting to a 3-0 lead, dropping only one game to seal the opening set. While her Bulgarian opponent managed to draw even once in the second, the 18-year-old’s consistent and strong play proved dominant as she closed out the first match in three minutes short of an hour in straight sets at 6-1, 6-2.
CoCo also pulled off another straight-set win, upsetting No. 29 seed Sloane Stephens. The 23-year-old American was playing even with her opponent throughout the first set until she grabbed a crucial break that proved to be the turning point for the match. The 2015 Wimbledon quarterfinalist continued to exhibit steady play throughout set 2, wrapping the encounter up at 6-4, 6-2.
Ricardas Berankis (VCORE Tour G, POLYTOUR SPIN, SHT-PRO) booked a place in round 2 after an extended outing against Joao Sousa of Portugal. Ricardas swiftly captured the opening two sets, but his Portuguese opponent would stretch the match into a five-set affair. The Lithuanian eventually managed to clutch victory at 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(4).
Be sure to keep your eyes open for Stan Wawrinka (VCORE Tour G, SHT-PRO), Lleyton Hewitt (VCORE Tour 97, YONEX Shoes), Nick Kyrgios (EZONE DR 98, POLYTOUR PRO 120), Angelique Kerber (VCORE Si 100) and Sabine Lisicki (VCORE Tour F 97, POLYTOUR SPIN) as they compete in their first-round matches on day 2.
US Open 2015 Day 1 Tournament Results
Men’s Singles Round 1
Ricardas Berankis (VCORE Tour G, POLYTOUR SPIN, SHT-PRO)(LTU) def. Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(4).
[23] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) def. Pierre-Hugues Herbert (VCORE Tour G)(FRA) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(7)
Women’s Singles Round 1
[12] Belinda Bencic (EZONE DR 100, POLYTOUR HS 125)(SUI) def. Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) 6-1, 6-2
CoCo Vandeweghe (EZONE DR 98)(USA) def. [29] Sloane Stephens (USA) 6-4, 6-2
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) def. [7] Ana Ivanovic (EZONE DR 98)(SRB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Daria Kasatkina (RUS) def. Daria Gavrilova (EZONE DR 100, POLYTOUR HS 125)(AUS) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
*Photo of CoCo taken at the 2014 US Open