Halep falls in first round as Murray, Wawrinka win

NEW YORK — Simona Halep made a quick-as-can-be exit from the U.S. Open on Monday, becoming the first No. 1seeded woman to lose her opening match at the Grand Slam tournament in the half-century of the professional era. Halep was overwhelmed by the power-based game of 44th-ranked Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, 6-2, 6-4 in a stunningly lopsided match that lasted all of 76 minutes.

It was the first match at the rebuilt Louis Armstrong Stadium, which now has a retractable roof, and what a way to get things started. That cover was not needed to protect from rain on Day 1 at the year’s last major — although some protection from the bright sun and its 90-degree heat might have been appreciated.

Since professionals were admitted to the Grand Slam tournaments in 1968, only five times did women who were seeded No. 1 lose their opening match at a major — and never before had it happened at the U.S. Open. It happened twice to Martina Hingis and once to Steffi Graf at Wimbledon, once to Angelique Kerber at the French Open and once to Virginia Ruzici at the Australian Open.

Halep won the French Open in June for her first Grand Slam title and will remain at No. 1 after the U.S. Open, even with her firstround departure. She got off to a slow start at Roland Garros this year, too, dropping her opening set, but ended up pulling out the victory and adding six more to lift the trophy. There was no such turnaround vs. Kanepi, who claimed her second career win vs. a top-ranked player. In other action:

■ Andy Murray pumped his fist and then did it again, exulting as if he had just won his match. Actually, he was still one point away. But considering all the pain Murray has experienced in his hip, sprinting toward the net to chase down a drop volley and put it away was something to celebrate.

Murray and Stan Wawrinka, a pair of former U.S. Open champions, both were winners in their return to the tournament after having to miss it last year. Wawrinka ousted No. 8 seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-2, 7-5, while Murray eliminated James Duckworth 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. Both felt good physically, though not quite as good about their chances of contending for the title.

Murray hadn’t played in a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon last year, before needing hip surgery that has limited him to just eight matches this year. He said before the weekend it wasn’t realistic to think he could win this U.S. Open.

Wawrinka has a little more reason for hope. The 2016 champion couldn’t defend his title last year and needed two left knee surgeries, but has had some good results this summer. He also eliminated Dimitrov in the first round at Wimbledon, won a couple matches in Toronto before falling to top-ranked Rafael Nadal, and took Roger Federer to three sets in the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

■ Past U.S. Open champ Serena Williams was slated to play later Monday, along with defending champs Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens.