Eleventh-seeded Samantha Stosur, the 2011 champion, was sent crashing out in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday by American 17-year-old qualifier Victoria Duval.
The American, a daughter of Haitian parents and ranked 296 in the world, clinched a famous 5-7 6-4 6-4 win to register her first victory at a grand slam, two years after her only other major appearance, when she was defeated in New York by Kim Clijsters.
“The crowd really helped me. Sam is a great champion and I watched her when she won the US Open. Today she didn’t play her best match and I played the best match of my career,” said Duval.
Stosur, 12 years older than her opponent and who parted with long-time coach David Taylor on the eve of the US Open, saved a match point in the ninth game of the decider.
Duval, roared on a by a packed Louis Armstrong court, squandered two more match points before taking victory at the fourth time of asking with a sweeping forehand.
Stosur was undone by 56 unforced errors and 10 double faults.
Duval goes on to meet Slovak veteran Daniela Hantuchova for a place in the last 32.