Venus Williams lost in the second round of the US Open for a third consecutive year with defeat by China’s Zheng Jie.
The two-time champion went down 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-5) in three hours and two minutes, the joint fifth-longest women’s match in the event’s history.
Her sister Serena’s second-round match was postponed because of rain.
But third seed Agnieszka Radwanska and fifth seed Li Na advanced before the showers arrived, while sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro also went through.
China’s Li will next play Britain’s Laura Robson, who beat Caroline Garcia of France 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Li Na (Chn) [5] bt Sofia Arvidsson (Swe) [5] 6-2 6-2
Li, who needed just 64 minutes to wrap up victory, said: “I was so lucky before the rain came that I finished the match so I don’t have to wait and warm up and come to the court again.”
Juan Martin del Potro (Arg) [6] bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spa) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-7 (9-7)
“It’s my favourite tournament. Thank you supporting me, for staying,” said 2009 champion Del Potro after his match delayed the start of the night session – and Andy Murray’s title defence.
The Argentine said his next opponent Lleyton Hewitt was “maybe the toughest opponent without seeding in the field.”
Serena Williams (USA) [1] v Galina Voskoboeva (Kaz)
Defending champion Serena Williams’ second-round match was postponed until Thursday because of rain.
Sloane Stephens (USA) [15] bt Urszula Radwanska (Pol) 6-1 6-1
Louis Armstrong Stadium
Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) [3] bt Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (Spa) 6-0 7-5
Radwanska, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, hit only 10 unforced errors, compared with 38 for her opponent on her way to victory in 66 minutes.
Jie Zheng (Chn) bt Venus Williams (USA) 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-5)
“It’s unbelievable I can beat her,” Zheng said of her victory over the 2000 and 2001 champion. “This is very good for me and gives me more confidence for the next one.”
Ivo Karlovic (Cro) bt James Blake (USA) 6-7 (2-7) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2)
The 6ft 10ins Croat sent down 38 aces and 75 winners as Blake, a former world number four, bowed out of tennis with a painful defeat. Blake said on Monday he was quitting the sport after his home Grand Slam.
Grandstand
Kevin Anderson (SA) [17] bt Daniel Brands (Ger) 7-5 6-4 6-2 6-3
Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) bt Brian Baker (USA) 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
The 2001 champion, now 32, will meet Juan Martin del Potro in round two and said: “Another step up. But that’s why I’m here, to have a crack at the best guys. At Grand Slams this year, he is one of them.
“I feel I can hurt him in some areas some other guys can’t. But the guy has such brute power out there. He can blow anyone off the court.”
Outside courts
Carla Suarez Navarro (Spa) [18] bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-3 6-4
Laura Robson (GB) [30] bt Caroline Garcia (Fra) 6-4 7-7 (7-5)
Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui) [9] bt Radek Stepanek (Cze) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 6-2
Colin Fleming (GBR) and Jonny Marray (GBR) [12] bt Carlos Berlocq (Arg) and Eduardo Schwank (Arg) 4-6 6-3 6-4
