US Open claims its first British victim as Lily Miyazaki crashes out

Lily Miyazaki suffered a second-round exit to the Olympic champion to end Britain’s perfect start to the US Open. The world No.198 recorded her first-ever Grand Slam victory on Monday to start a remarkable run of all seven British players winning their opening matches without dropping a set.

But Belinda Bencic, the Swiss world No.13 who lost to Emma Raducanu in the quarter-finals here in 2021, ensured there would not be another fairytale story in New York for another British qualifier by winning 6-3 6-3. She has the compensation of banking $123,000 (£96,000)- easily the biggest cheque of her career.

Japanese-born Miyazaki, 27, beat world No.1022 Margarita Betova in her first overseas match in a Major. But after the scheduled 11am start was delayed by heavy morning rain, former world No.5 Bencic played at a different level on a steamy Court 5 despite the support of Jodie Burrage.

The British No.7 won only five points in the first three games as she quickly slipped 0-3 down. It took Miyazaki 21 minutes to get on the scoreboard when the Swiss sent a sliced forehand return into the net.

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Miyazaki took the score to deuce at 4-2 – and led 0-30 when the Swiss served for the set at 5-3 but Bencic took her first set point after 44 minutes when the Brit sent a forehand into the net.

The end appeared nigh when the former US Open semi-finalist again raced into a 3-0 lead in the second set. But Miyazaki dug in and broke serve for the first and only time after 65 minutes when she took a second serve early and powered a backhand service return winner down the line.

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Bencic showed her growing frustration when she tossed her racquet to the court after Miyazaki held serve to get back to 2-3. But Bencic held her nerve to take her second match point after 90 minutes when Miyazaki hooked a forehand into the net.

The other six British players to make the second round – Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Cam Norrie, Dan Evans and Andy Murray – are all in action on Thursday.

It is the first time there are more than two British female players have won a main draw match in New York since 1987. And it was the most British players to reach the second round since seven players also achieved the feat back in 1977.

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