Sloane Stephens of the United States returns the ball during the singles first round match against Wang Qiang of China at 2017 WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on Sept. 25, 2017. Sloane Stephens lost 0-2.(Xinhua/Li Ga)
Newly-crowned U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens of the United States was stunned by China's Wang Qiang, world No. 55, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the 2017 WTA Wuhan Open on Monday.
The eighth game of the second set was so tough as eight deuces appeared. After wasting three match points of the set, the 25-year-old Chinese grabbed the chance at the fourth and sealed the win.
Wang got into the match with good form in the spotlight at the center court, easily winning the first set 6-2. After both took their first serve in the second set, Wang again took the game by the scruff of the neck to break twice and hold her own two to take a 5-1 lead.
Although the world No. 17 struggled to fight back and held her service in the seventh game, she was unable to stop the home favorite to the victory.
Awaiting Wang in the second round is Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who dispatched another home player Wang Yafan here on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the other U.S. Open finalist, 10th-seeded Madison Key was dismissed by a qualifier, her fellow American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
After losing the first set quickly, the world No. 11 found some form in the second to make things much closer, saving a match point to force the match into a tie-break. But Lepchenko came on strong to take big lead in the tie-break before the win.
