The first three Grand Slam tournaments of the year have produced three different winners in women’s singles, and the wide-open nature of a season largely played without Serena Williams figured to continue at the United States Open.
Entering Monday, eight women had a chance to leave the tournament with the No. 1 ranking.
Seventh-seeded Johanna Konta was one of them, but that possibility evaporated quickly for her with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to Aleksandra Krunic in the first round.
Then Simona Halep, the No. 2 seed, fell in a dramatic first-round matchup against Maria Sharapova, who was playing in her first Grand Slam event since she was suspended for drug use.