Top seed Karolina Pliskova has been knocked out of the US Tennis Open in the second round with a heavy defeat by France's Caroline Garcia.
Pliskova, runner-up in 2016, lost 6-1 7-6 (7-2) to the world number 50.
The Czech world number three was the highest ranked player at Flushing Meadows with the absence of Australian Ashleigh Barty and Romania's Simona Halep.
Her exit further improves Serena Williams' chances of a 24th Grand Slam title.
"It was very close to going into a third set and I was ready for it. She didn't play badly," said Garcia, who celebrated her victory by running the breadth of the court with her arms outstretched.
"I stuck to my game plan and every point was very important. Now I can take confidence from a good win against a top player."
The women's top seed has not won the title at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014.
Karolina Pliskova Photo: Photosport
Men's World No.1 Novak Djokovic brushed aside Briton Kyle Edmund 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-4 6-2 after a sluggish start to remain unbeaten in 2020 and move into the third round of the US Open.
Djokovic is on course for his 18th grand slam title and improved his 2020 match record to 25-0.
It stands as the second best start to a season since the Serb went 41-0 in 2011.
With the two other members of the sport's Big Three - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal - absent from the tournament, Djokovic is heavy favourite to hoist the trophy.
-BBC/Reuters
