US Open: Maria Sharapova beats Simona Halep
Maria Sharapova made a show-stopping return to Grand Slam tennis by upsetting second seed Simona Halep in the opening round of the US Open.
The first-round blockbuster certainly lived up to the hype under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Sharapova ultimately overpowering Halep to win 6-4 4-6 6-3.
The 2006 champion had looked set to win in straight sets when she led 4-1 in the second only to let it slip but recovered to clinch a dramatic victory after two hours and 44 minutes.
Sharapova dropped to her knees after clinching victory and then sat and sobbed on her chair, her face a picture of disbelief.
The Russian has been cut from 20/1 to 13/2 by Sky Bet to win the US Open on the back of here memorable victory. That makes her third in the betting to get the trophy.
Addressing the crowd, the 30-year-old said: "I just thought this was another day, another opportunity, another match but this was so much more and I didn't want to think about it. We put in all the work and this is exactly why."
Sky Bet's US Open title favourite Garbine Muguruza raced into the second round at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
The Wimbledon champion, who heads the market at 7/2 ahead of Karolina Pliskova at 6/1, has established herself as the current leading lady of the women's tour, following up her SW19 triumph by winning one of the bigger WTA Tour events in Cincinnati last weekend.
Muguruza opened proceedings on Arthur Ashe and needed just 63 minutes to defeat American Varvara Lepchenko 6-0 6-3.
The Spaniard has struggled in New York previously and has already matched her best result - although her hopes, of course, extend much further.
Muguruza said of her confidence: "I think it's a high level, of course. I got big wins recently, and a lot of matches in a row that I felt I was playing good and that I won.
"I just thought with the matches that I played in the past tournaments (at the US Open), I just think it didn't go my way, as simple as that, because I always come prepared and happy."
Like Muguruza, fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki is one of eight women who could end the tournament ranked world number one.
The Dane moved safely through to round two with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Romanian qualifier Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Wozniacki is on offer at 16/1 with Sky Bet to lift the trophy.
Petra Kvitova, a 25/1 chance, found things tougher against Jelena Jankovic but secured a confidence-boosting 7-5 7-5 victory.
The Czech 12th seed initially flourished on her comeback from the horrific hand injuries she suffered when an intruder attacked her with a knife at her home last December.
But perhaps inevitably she has found it harder since a dream run to the title at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham in June.
Kvitova had won only four matches in five events since, and she said: "Every day is just different, and I just try to find a way to get better. I know that not every day is the best day.
"Of course, I wanted to have more matches coming here, but on the other hand, I'm really glad that I'm here.
"Things like seeing other players, seeing coaches, being on the tennis court, practising with other girls, that feels more normal than before. Matches are already normal but it's still very special and I'm still very grateful for it.
"My hand is progressing and I hope one day everything will be perfect."
Ninth seed Venus Williams, who is 18/1 for glory, was given a scare by Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova but recovered from losing the second set to win 6-3 3-6 6-2.
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