Stephens bundled out early

REIGNING US Open champion Sloane Stephens’ Australian Open campaign has gone down in flames, with the young American becoming the first big-name casualty of the tournament.

The 13th-seeded 24-yearold, now winless in eight attempts since her surprise maiden major last September, fell 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to world No.34 Zhang Shuai in a seesawing match to open proceedings at Margaret Court Arena yesterday.

Giant-killing Zhang added Stephens to a long list of Melbourne Park scalps after defeating Simona Halep, Alize Cornet and Madison Keys on her way to the quarter-finals in 2016.

“This court (is) really special for me,” Zhang said after evening her head-to-head ledger with Stephens at 2-2. “When I come back here for warm-up ... I’m feeling so exciting.”

In the early stages, Stephens showed no sign of her sluggish year-end form, posting 14 winners to race through the first set in 38 minutes.

At 4-all in the second, she looked to have struck the killer blow to break Zhang’s serve for the sixth time.

But the second-ranked Chinese women’s player rallied from 4-5 down to force a second-set tie-breaker, and later a deciding final set.

After breaking in the first game, Zhang, 28, never looked back to break Stephens’ serve again before holding her nerve on serve to close out the 2013 Australian Open semi-finalist.

She was well aware she had pulled off another major upset.

“Sloane, she plays so well, and she win the US Open – everyone knows she’s good player,” she said. REFUSING to live on past glories, Venus Williams blamed rust and a rough draw after crashing out on day one of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

In-form Swiss Belinda Bencic sent the veteran packing with a 6-3 7-5 boilover on Rod Laver Arena, leaving the tournament without a Williams sister in the second round for the first time in 21 years.

After denying Venus in last year’s final, Serena Williams was unable to defend her crown following the birth last September of her first child.

Turning 38 in June, Venus had been hoping to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in history but her bid to keep the trophy in the family lasted just 74 minutes.

The seven-times major winner also lost in the first round of last week’s Sydney International, falling to 2016 Open champion and fellow former world No.1 Angelique Kerber.

“I mean, I had two tough draws,” Venus said when asked to explain her demise.

“You have to get started immediately.

“Just not the best luck in terms of a quick start. “The rest of the year to go. “Last year is last year. This is a new year. You can’t live in the previous year.”

Bencic, who lost to Serena in the first round last year, was jubilant in victory, after most didn’t give her a chance when the draw came out.

“Oh, honestly, the first reaction from everyone was ‘oh, bad luck’,” the 20-year-old said.

“Of course it would be nice to play someone easier first round, get your rhythm...

“On the other hand, it’s a big court and when I was growing up I never thought I would get the chance to play Venus and Serena and now I’m getting the chance and I really enjoyed it.”

Roger Federer’s family were conspicuous supporters in the stands as the men’s defending champion’s Hopman Cupwinning teammate set up a second-round date with either Swede Johanna Larsson or Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.

“I was happy when I heard they wanted to watch,” said Bencic, a one-time world No.7 on the comeback trail from injury.

“It was months.

“The perspective changes a lot.

“I can appreciate it more. I’m not thinking about winning or losing.

“I’m just happy to be on court.” a difficult five