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By Amy Tennery
NEWYORK (Reuters) – While the second-round match between Simona Halep and Taylor Townsend did not lack surprises and thrills, the result was well known to the fourth-seeded Romanian – a tear, again during the American Open.
After her second Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon last month, Halep appeared to be a real threat in the women's talent squad at Flushing Meadows this year.
But the 27-year-old was sent Thursday by unrecognized service specialist and volleyed Townsend to leave her tournament record a grim three-year win.
Asked after the match what she thought of her premature departure, Halep said she was "used to".
"This is the third year," said Halep. "Well, I'm disappointed. I expected me to be confident and feel the game. But today was different. I was very close. I had match (point). But, you know, sometimes it happens.
That was not always the case for Halep in New York, where she was semi-finalist in 2015 and round of 16 the following year.
Her bad run began in 2017, when she was drawn by former No. 1 player Maria Sharapova, after a 15-month doping ban, and was 6-4 4-6 6-3 loser at first round.
Halep started the 2018 tournament at the top of the standings, having won its first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, before falling again in the first hurdle with a two-set loss to Estonia, Kaia Kanepi.
The world number four, who pulled out of the Rogers Cup last month with an Achilles problem, said she would take defeat in her wake.
"I just have to look forward," she said. "I'm Wimbledon champion so I'm not going to ruin it."
(Report by Amy Tennery, edited by Nick Mulvenney)
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