Ai Sugiyama made a third-round exit at the U.S. Open on Friday after she was dumped out of the women's singles by former doubles partner Kim Clijsters.
Ai Sugiyama plays a return to Belgium's Kim Clijsters during their third-round match at the U.S. Open in New York on Friday.
Belgian No. 4 seed Clijsters swept aside 30th-seeded Sugiyama 6-1 in the first set and went on to wrap up the 70-minute match by taking the second set 6-4 to book her spot in the next round.
"I tried to give it everything I had but came apart," said Sugiyama.
"I couldn't respond to her forehands and allowed her to set the tone."