NEW YORK (AP) - Sloane Stephens and Vania King _ both ranked outside the top 100 _ upset seeded players at the U.S. Open on Thursday, giving the United States five women in the third round, its most since 2004.
The 106th-ranked Stephens, an 18-year-old from Los Angeles, beat 23rd-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Stephens is the youngest woman left in the draw and never won a Grand Slam match until this week. She’s the daughter of 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year John M. Stephens.
The 103rd-ranked King, a 22-year-old who splits time between Florida and California, eliminated No. 29 Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia 6-2, 6-0.
Stephens and King join Serena Williams, Christina McHale and Irina Falconi in the third round. Eight Americans made it that far in 2004.
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