Venus Williams Headlines an Early Yank Exit outta Oz
Well, that was a short reign.
After four American women were semi-finalists at the US Open in Flushing last fall, it seemed like the United States' tennis fortunes were on the rise beyond what the incredible Williams sisters had achieved.
After the first round of the Australian Open down in Melbourne, they're all on their way home.
Dunno.
But looking at this list, American devastation in the tourney's first round was borderline apocalyptic:
Kevin King's loss completes the maudlin Monday for US tennis: 3-12.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 15, 2018
US men went 2-3; US women went a shocking 1-9.
#5 Venus❌
#8 Sock❌
#10 Vandeweghe❌
#13 Stephens❌
#16 Isner❌
Bellis❌
Brady❌
Falconi❌
Kenin❌
K.King❌
Riske❌
Townsend❌
Gibbs✅
Harrison✅
McDonald ✅
Venus Williams downed CoCo Vandeweghe on her way to a runner-up finish last year, when younger sister Serena captured the crown.
This time, it was none other than Switzerland's Belinda Bencic who hammered out a straight-set 6-3, 7-5 victory over the 37-year-old Floridian.
Jack Sock finished 2017 on a roll and was expected to do well here.
Japan's Yuichi Sugita had other ideas, though, and prevailed in a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3 outing.
And so on.
With the exception of Williams, all the women's top eight seeds are through, but that's what's supposed to happen on the first day.
Same for the men, where No 8 Sock has now been left behind.
Odds are most of this contingent rented houses in or near Melbourne, so some may stay for a while.
Why not? There's always something to do in Australia.