The world’s No 33 Kazakhstani tennis player Yulia Putintseva is the first victim in the main draw of the US Open. She lost the match in the first round versus Estonian Kaia Kanepi with 2-1 (2:6, 7:6, 6:2). The tough and highly equal match lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The first set started with a break of Kaia Kanepi already in the third game, but Yulia Putintseva quickly get control of the match and won the set with 6:2, winning 5 consecutive games.
The second set was quite more equal and both played exchanged two breaks to reach the tie-break, which was won by Kaia Kanepi with 7:4. Thus, the Estonian won the set with 7:6.
Yulia Putintseva was a little bit tired in the third set and it was visible. Kaia Kanepi made a break in the fourth game and took a lear of 3:1. She defended the break and had a chance to register another one in the 6th game, but the Kazakhstani player saved her service game and remained in the match with 4:2. However, Kaia Kanepi won her service and made another break to win the set with 6:2 and the match with 2-1.
Kaia Kanepi, who is the world’s No 70, will face Canadian player Leylah Fernandez (world’s No 77) in the second round.
Leylah Fernandez claimed a straight-set victory in the first round versus Croatian Ana Konjuh.