Semeņistaja falls to 25th seed Potapova in US Open first round

Latvian tennis player Daniela Semeņistaja was eliminated in the first round of the US Open, losing to Russia's Anastasia Potapova, ranked 25th in the world, in a match played in 26-degree heat. The final score was 6:2, 6:2 in Potapova's favor.

Semeņistaja started the first set well, taking an early lead in the opening game, but then lost two consecutive service games, falling behind 1:4. She had a chance to break back when Potapova hit an unforced error on a break-point opportunity, but Potapova recovered to close out the set with an ace.

In the second set, Semeņistaja again found herself trailing early. During a lengthy sixth game lasting nine minutes, she failed to convert three break-point chances despite Potapova committing several double faults. Semeņistaja then lost her own serve. In the final game, which lasted ten minutes, she saved three match points but could not convert any of five break-point opportunities of her own, and Potapova closed out the match.

Statistics showed Potapova was more effective on serve, winning 73% of points on her first serve and 49% on her second, compared to Semeņistaja's 56% and 29%. Potapova also converted five of nine break points, while Semeņistaja managed just one of nine.

This was Semeņistaja's fourth appearance in a Grand Slam main draw. She reached the main draw this time after winning a lucky loser spot, the same route she took at this year's Wimbledon. For her first-round appearance in New York, she will receive 140,000 US dollars in prize money and ten ranking points.