WHAT HAPPENED: Simona Halep had never faced 20-year-old Daria Snigur before Monday’s Round 1 match at the 2022 US Open. Safe to say, Halep won’t have fond memories of their first encounter.
Halep, the former world No. 1 and 2015 US Open semifinalist, was shocked by the 20-year-old Ukrainian qualifier in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“This match for Ukraine, for my family, for all fans who supported me,” Snigur said. “I want to say thank you all.”
Ranked No. 124, Snigur, the 2019 Wimbledon girls' champion, kept Halep off-balance early and broke her three times in the first set, while Halep committed 11 unforced errors to put herself in a hole.
But the two-time Grand Slam singles champion, who has a new partnership with Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou, appeared to solve the puzzle of Snigur, dominating the second set, 6-0, no doubt helped by Snigur’s 13 unforced errors.
But in a match with more plot twists than a soap opera, Snigur roared back in the third set, taking a 5-1 lead as Halep yelled and pointed to herself in frustration.
Snigur, in her first main-draw match at a Slam, was relentless from the baseline with an unorthodox swing which seemingly left Halep with no answer.
Halep dug down deep, fought off two match-points to cut the lead to 5-4.
But Snigur, down 0-30, rallied for four-straight points to win on her third match point.
WHAT IT MEANS: Snigur advances to Round 2 for the first time on Wednesday. Her victory over Halep was her first WTA win. The Ukranian played in last week’s Ukraine fundraiser in Louis Armstrong Stadium in between qualifying matches.
MATCH POINT: Halep, the former world No. 1, had won 20 of her previous 23 matches before Monday. The US Open is the only Grand Slam where Halep hasn't reached a final.
