Top-seeded Ivanovic loses in huge upset at US Open

[August 29, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The top-ranked player in the world seemed tentative, while No. 188 was assertive.

"I thought she was maybe nervous more than I was," said Julie Coin, who had to advance through qualifying to even reach the U.S. Open, about her opponent, the French Open champ.

The tennis world was turned upside down Thursday when Coin stunned the No. 1 seed, Ana Ivanovic. Coin won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round. Never before in the 40-year Open era had a top women's seed lost so early.

"I think what I experienced so far is girls, when they play against higher-ranked players, they have nothing to lose so they go for their shots," Ivanovic said. "Many times they play matches of their life."

Still, this result would have been nearly impossible to predict. Even after Ivanovic struggled in the first round with an injured right thumb that limited her practice time.

Coin spent much of the year playing in minor league events and nearly got knocked out of the Open qualifying. The Frenchwoman recently played so poorly she thought about giving up the sport and relying on her mathematics degree from Clemson.

"I was thinking, 'Am I really made to play tennis?'" she said.

Ivanovic seemed to be rallying in the third set when Coin suddenly recovered to win 10 straight points. The 25-year-old screamed when Ivanovic's last shot sailed out, then hopped for joy and hit an extra ball high into the stands.

"I felt nervous at the beginning and then it went away," Coin said. "Like I was just playing on the courts and playing against a girl. Like it was just a normal match for me.

"And then it came back maybe match point and I was like, 'OK, now it's like the last point and you need to win the last point.' Then the pressure came back."

Ivanovic smiled after the match, simply happy to be pain-free, and did not appear upset by the loss.

The other favorites, meanwhile, were cruising along.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal avoided a similar fate on the men's side, beating Ryler De Heart 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Venus Williams and sister Serena won earlier in the day. James Blake, David Ferrer, Andy Murray, David Nalbandian and Dinara Safina joined them in moving into the third round.

The Ivanovic-Coin match was originally scheduled for the smaller Louis Armstrong Stadium, but was moved to the main Arthur Ashe Stadium to give the crowd a treat. The fans hardly knew what really was in store.

Tentative at times, Ivanovic seemed to regain her edge midway through third set. She led 40-0 in the fifth game and was about to break Coin's serve when suddenly the momentum shifted.

Coin came back to hold, starting her decisive streak.

Ivanovic tried to stave off Coin in the final game, but it was too late for the 20-year-old Serbian star. Coin won on her third match point -- quite a result for someone playing in her first tour-level event.

Coin had tried to qualify for the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon and never made any of them. And she certainly wasn't anything bankable going into this match -- she'd earned less than $100,000 lifetime as a pro, and was facing someone who'd won nearly $6 million.

Next up for Coin in the third round is No. 32 Amelie Mauresmo, who beat Kaia Kanepi 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Coin and Mauresmo once played at the same club near Paris and shared the same coach, yet don't know each other well.

Going into this Open, Ivanovic had played only two matches since Wimbledon while her thumb healed. The injury forced her to withdraw from the Olympics, limited her practice time and sent her from Beijing to Australia for treatment.

Fourth-seeded Serena Williams routed Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-1 and seventh-seeded Venus Williams overwhelmed Rossana de Los Rios 6-0, 6-3 in only 59 minutes.

"I'm very satisfied so far, the way it's gone," Williams said.

After teaming with her sister to win Olympic gold in doubles, Venus stayed on course to play Serena in the quarterfinals here.

"Whichever way the draw goes, whichever way the matches go, as long as hopefully it's a win for me, I'm pretty happy about it," Venuse said.

Williams is the last woman to win consecutive championships at the U.S. Open, but hasn't taken the title since 2001.

"Oh yes, I remember. I won't forget, but I'd like to have a more recent memory as of, like, '08," she said. "Kind of overdue."

Blake advanced when Steve Darcis pulled out because of a bad lower back. Seeded ninth and coming off a tough, five-set match in the first round, Blake lost the first set 4-6, then won 6-3 and was ahead 1-0 when Darcis retired.

[Associated Press; By RACHEL COHEN]

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