Riske falters late in match at U.S. Open
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NEW YORK – A comeback by Alison Riske fell just short Tuesday night at the U.S. Open tennis tournament as the McMurray native was outlasted by Sorana Cirstea of Romania, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the opening round.
It was the fifth consecutive loss for Riske at the U.S. Open since 2013, when she advanced to the fourth round.
This one, however, was close throughout before Cirstea rallied late in the third set to win the two-hour marathon.
Cirstea, ranked No. 51 in the world, won the opening set but Riske finished the second set strong, winning the final three games to even the match and take the momentum into the final set.
Riske, the No. 75-ranked player, led at multiple points in the third set – and was three points away from winning the match at 5-4 – before Cirstea rallied and won the final four games. Riske fought off two match points before Cirstea won the final game on a tiebreaker.
Cirstea will play either 22nd-seeded Maria Sharapova or Patty Schnyder in the second round.
Riske advanced to the second round of her last Grand Slam event at Wimbledon. She is entered in women’s doubles at the U.S. Open. Riske and partner Taylor Townsend will play the No. 10-seeded team in the opening round.