Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur, 20, was in absolute disbelief and shock after upsetting two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep in her Grand Slam main draw debut. Snigur, who won three qualifying matches to earn a main draw place at the US Open, claimed a shock 6-2 0-6 6-4 win over seventh-seeded Halep.
Going into the tournament, Halep was considered among top favorites for the US Open title. But Snigur had other plans. “I’m very happy. I’m very, very, very nervous. But I tried to do my best,” Snigur said in a shaky voice during her on-court interview, via the WTA website.
Snigur managed to close out Halep in three sets
Snigur got off to a great start to the match, breaking Halep three times in the first set to easily win the opener. After a slow start to the match, Halep bounced back impressively as she bageled Snigur in the second set to send the match into a decider.
After not winning a single game in the second set, Snigur broke Halep in the first and fifth games of the third set to open a 5-1 lead. But Snigur then started to feel the nerves as she failed to serve out for the match in the eighth game and then missed out on two match points on Halep’s serve in the ninth game.
In the 10th game, Halep had 0/30 and it seemed that she would get back the second break as well and tie the set to five games apiece. But Snigur was able to stay calm in those moments and win the next four points to complete the biggest victory of her career.
For Halep, it was yet another disappointing US Open run. Throughout her career, Halep has had Grand Slam success but not much of it at the US Open. Halep is a five-time Grand Slam finalist as she has reached a final at every Grand Slam outside the US Open.
