FRENCH Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is out of the US Open, losing in the third round 6-3 6-2 to Russian Daria Kasaktina after hitting 38 unforced errors.

The Latvian 12th seed, who blasted her way to the Roland Garros title in June, got off to a fast start but the unseeded Kasaktina mixed her game with sliced backhands and chopped forehands to slow her opponent down.

The plan worked as after winning the first three games, Ostapenko grew frustrated and exited after she netted a backhand on the second match point at the end of a lung-busting rally.

Ostapenko complained of nausea and illness during the match.

“In the beginning I was a little bit nervous but I tried to stay focused and play my game and it paid off,” said Kasaktina, who faces Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi for a place in the quarter-finals.

While the result was a surprise, more talk was generated by the pair exchanging pleasantries at the net at end of the match. Ostapenko didn’t offer much in the way of the handshake department — and a kiss on the cheek was never going to be on the cards — much to Kasaktina’s amusement.

HANDSHAKE ALERT.



Kasatkina’s smile/shrug after is ICONIC. pic.twitter.com/OgMe0NNpN4 — Jeff Donaldson (@jddtennis) September 2, 2017

Swiss star Belinda Bencic sarcastically labelled the moment “classy” and Belgian pro Steve Darcis criticised it too. Plenty of tennis writers — as well as Andy Murray’s mother Judy — also pointed out how awkward it was.

Ostapenko handshake GIF needed immediately. — Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 2, 2017

Kasatkina's reaction is as gold as Ostapenko's "sort of" handshake. https://t.co/DmmEVCRer7 — Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) September 2, 2017

Ostapenko just HATES to play Kasatkina.



Epic handshake. — José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 2, 2017

Jelena Ostapenko has perfected the "no look" handshake.

pic.twitter.com/3Qu9nnbBTd — judy murray (@JudyMurray) September 2, 2017

Asked in the post-match press conference if her and Kasaktina were friends, Ostapenko had this to say: “I actually don’t know her. We just play the same tournaments from the age of 10 or 12. I saw her many times, but I don’t know her.”

That wasn’t the only unusual ending we saw at Flushing Meadows, with some more snubbing evident after No. 20 seed CoCo Vandeweghe outlasted No. 10 seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-5 4-6 6-4.

Hawkeye confirmed Vandeweghe’s win following a challenge and as Radwanska went to the net to offer her congratulations, the American turned around and instead celebrated in front of her home crowd.

Radwanska waiting for hawkeye. As Vandeweghe win confirmed, she goes away to celebrate first&shake hands later with Aga standing right there pic.twitter.com/E6oC36Tuj9 — Ashish Jena (@ashishjena94) September 2, 2017

Elsewhere in the women’s draw Karolina Pliskova showed the steel of a world No.1 as she fought off a match point to claim a riveting 3-6 7-5 6-4 comeback win over Zhang Shuai. Pliskova, runner-up in New York last year, would have lost her World No. 1 ranking had she been beaten on Arthur Ashe Stadium but instead moved another step closer to a first career grand slam title.

“Last grand slam of the season and knowing you played fine last year, you just want to play that good again,” Pliskova said.

“I don’t feel like I’m playing that good again, but I’m still in the draw, actually, so I’m not going to be that sad.”

American Shelby Rogers’ marathon run ended in the third round. Rogers, two days after beating Australian Daria Gavrilova in the longest women’s singles match in US Open history, lost to No. 4 seed Elina Svitolina 6-4 7-5. On match point, Svitolina hit a thunderous forehand that hit the net cord and dribbled over for a winner.

On Thursday, Rogers outlasted Gavrilova 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) in 3 hours, 33 minutes.

— with AP, AAP