This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Published on September 1, 2019, Ashleigh Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, suffered a shocking defeat at the 2019 U.S. Open, losing to Wang Qiang in the fourth round.
Wang Qiang, the 18th seed from China, played consistent defensive tennis, while Barty hit 39 unforced errors out of 123 total points, including 24 in the second set.
Despite having nine break-point opportunities, Barty failed to convert any of them, allowing Wang to seal the match with a backhand long on an 81-mile-per-hour serve.
Wang's patient approach paid off as she waited for Barty to make critical mistakes, ultimately holding firm to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event for the first time in 21 appearances.
Earlier in the day, No. 3 Roger Federer cruised into the quarterfinals, beating No. 15 David Goffin, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0, in 1 hour 19 minutes.
