Ivanovic shocked by unheralded Frenchwoman
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Giant-killer... Coin, ranked 188th, disposed of Ivanovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. (Getty Images: Matthew Stockman)
Julie Coin registered one the biggest upsets in US Open women's history, sending world number one and top seed Ana Ivanovic crashing out in the second round this morning.
Coin, who is ranked 188th in the world, broke Ivanovic three times in the one hour, 57 minutes match, clinching the victory 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on her third match point at the main Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 25-year-old Coin was making her Grand Slam debut after successfully coming through the qualifying round. She had tried but failed earlier this year to qualify for the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
Ivanovic looked the more nervous of the two in the deciding third set. She posted a total of eight double faults and made 37 unforced errors to 26 for Coin.
Ivanovic, of Serbia, converted just one of her eight break-point chances and did not record an ace.
She did managed to survive two match points before going down in a historic defeat. Previously the top seed at the US Open had not lost earlier than the third round.
Coin moves through to the next round where she will play French countrywoman Amelie Mauresmo.
Ivanovic's has not had a long reign at number one. Her stay at the top was interrupted for a week earlier this month, but she since regained the top spot in the WTA rankings.
Ivanovic came into the final Grand Slam of the year complaining about a lack of preparation due to injuries.
A muscle strain in her leg did not allow her to play any tune-ups prior to Wimbledon, where she made another disappointing exit in the third round.
Later she suffered a right thumb injury, which played a part in her second-round loss at the Rogers Cup.
Swelling in the hand forced her to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics where she was the top seed.
In between Beijing and New York she flew to Australia to get more treatment on the hand.
-AFP
