Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova made tennis history on Monday when she became the first defending women's champion to lose in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Kuznetsova stomped off court after being thrashed 6-3, 6-2 by 97th ranked Ekaterina Bychkova in New York.
Fifth seed Kuznetsova has struggled to live up to her success from last year, failing to win a single title in 2005.
Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia reacts during her match with Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia at the US Open tennis tournament in New York Monday Aug. 29, 2005. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Other women's contenders Kim Clijsters and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, recorded impressive first round victories.
Eighth seed Serena Williams showed little sign of her nagging knee and ankle injury when she beat Taiwanese 16-year-old Yung-Jan Chan 6-1, 6-3.
Twice former champion Serena appeared more troubled by the $40,000-worth of diamond earrings she was wearing than her opponent during the first set. She removed the jewellery after one earring fell off midway through the set.
Fourth seed Clijsters made even shorter work of German qualifier Martina Mueller, winning 6-1, 6-2.
Wimbledon champion Venus Williams beat Japan's Rika Fujiwara 6-3, 6-1.
