MY ACCOUNT
Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur dedicated her shock victory over Simona Halep in the opening round of the US Open to the people in her war-torn country.
The world number 124 marked her debut in the main draw of a major with a 6-2 0-6 6-4 win at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
Snigur is the lowest-ranked player to win a grand slam match against Halep – one of the favourites for the title – since Maria Sharapova at the same tournament in 2017.
She is also the first female qualifier to win a US Open match against a top-10 seed since Johanna Konta eliminated Garbine Muguruza seven years ago.
Making Snigur’s achievement all the more incredible is that the 20-year-old’s training base in Kyiv was bombed by Russia, forcing her to instead prepare for the event in Riga.
Reflecting on the biggest win of her burgeoning career, a tearful Snigur said: “This is a victory for Ukraine, for all Ukrainian people, for my family, for my team.
“The situation is bad, of course. I try to do the best for Ukraine, I try to support my country.
“It’s not so easy because the war is continuing. Sometimes it’s impossible to play but I try to do my best because I want to live in Ukraine.
“I have to say thanks to Simona for this incredible match. I want to thank all the fans who watched our match today.”
Two-time major champion Halep has lost just three of her past 19 first-round matches in grand slams, though each of those have come at the US Open.
Snigur will now face Rebecca Marino, who defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets to advance to the second round.
