Some of it can be chalked up to injuries. A bad draw has obviously contributed, too.
But after five days, the U.S. Open has not been kind to American women.
The latest hit came Friday afternoon when 2017 champion Sloane Stephens failed to build off a strong start in a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 loss to No. 16 seed Angelique Kerber at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Ranked 66th in the world after shaky play the last two years, Stephens entered the match coming off quality victories over fellow Americans, and close friends, Madison Keys and No. 22 seed Coco Gauff.
Stephens started strong, making it seem like a big run was possible for her. But then she hit a wall in an avalanche of errors and poor serving, more reminiscent of her struggles in past events. Of the 15 tournaments she has participated in this year, Stephens failed to get past the second round in 10 of them
Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam champion, broke Stephens twice in the second set and twice more in the third. Stephens lost the match with an unforced error on her forehand — one of 39 on the day.
Stephens’ exit leaves just three American women left. And all three are underdogs in their upcoming matches, with Shelby Rogers set to face No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, No. 23 Jessica Pegula to meet No. 11 Belinda Bencic and No. 26 Danielle Collins to take on No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.
There was hope Stephens could pick up for the absence of three big-name American women. Serena and Venus Willians didn’t take part in the tournament due to injury and Sofia Kenin, the fifth-ranked player in the world, pulled out after recently testing positive for COVID-19.
Barring a surprising run from Collins, Pegula or Rogers, the second week of the U.S. Open will be absent an American woman.
