Ukrainian Snigur’s first win on tour is a US Open upset
NEW YORK (AP) — Daria Snigur raised her arms in celebration, then lowered them to wrap her arms across the blue-and-yellow ribbon on her chest.
This win — her first on the WTA Tour — was for Ukraine.
Snigur pulled off the primary massive upset of the U.S. Open, knocking off No. 7 seed Simona Halep 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 on Monday.
Days after collaborating in an exhibition to boost cash for her nation that’s combating a battle towards invading Russia, Snigur fought by way of tears as she tried to elucidate what the victory meant to her household and her house.
“No remark, I feel, as a result of it’s not possible for me now,” Snigur stated.
The 20-year-old was making her first look in the primary draw of a Grand Slam after rising by way of the qualifying rounds final week.
On Wednesday, she joined tennis superstars resembling Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, John McEnroe, Iga Swiatek and 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez within the “Tennis Performs for Peace Exhibition,” an occasion organized by the U.S. Tennis Affiliation that raised $1.2 million.
It befell in Louis Armstrong Stadium, which can have calmed Snigur’s nerves when she was despatched again on the market Monday.
“I feel it helped me as a result of I used to be right here in ‘Tennis Performs for Peace’ and I feel it helped me a bit bit,” Snigur stated throughout an on-court interview.
Snigur received the Wimbledon women singles title in 2019, however failed in her first eight makes an attempt to qualify for the primary draw of a Grand Slam earlier than lastly breaking by way of. She was 0-2 on tour and was dealing with a top-20 opponent for the primary time.
And in Halep, it was one of many hottest gamers in ladies’s tennis. The 2-time Grand Slam champion had received 19 of her earlier 22 matches and lately returned to the highest 10.
However Snigur responded properly after Halep received the second set, racing to a 5-1 lead within the third. Halep fought off a pair match factors whereas taking the following three video games earlier than Snigur lastly closed it out when Halep sailed a backhand lengthy.
Snigur then dropped her racket and lined her face as she fought again tears.
Elina Svitolina’s run to the 2019 semifinals is one of the best efficiency by a Ukrainian within the U.S. Open. Certainly one of 5 of them on this yr’s draw, Snigur will face Canadian Rebecca Marino on Wednesday.
First, she was going to savor a stunner.
“I need to say due to all of the followers who watched our match right this moment,” she stated.
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Extra AP protection of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
