CoCo Vandeweghe’s petulant standoff over a shortage of bananas was the low point on a horror day for the United States at the Australian Open on Monday as a procession of American players skidded out of the season’s first grand slam in the first round.


A miserable day session for America saw US Open champion Sloane Stephens Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Premium Men's Shoes Gym Red , seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams, men’s 16th seed John Isner and eighth seed Jack Sock, the highest ranked US player in the men’s draw, exit the tournament.


The evening brought little relief, with defeats for Irina Falconi and Kevin King bringing the tally to 12 Americans sent packing out of the 15 in first-round action.


Vandeweghe was given two code violations during her stormy 7-6(4), 6-2 defeat by Hungarian Timea Babos at the Hisense Arena. The first came after she refused to restart play at the end of the first set until a ball-kid delivered her bananas.


“How are they not on court? I mean, come on, that’s not my fault,” she said during an argument with the chair umpire.


“Why do I have to play under a different set of rules? I don’t have to make myself uncomfortable because it’s ill prepared. I have needs and it’s not my fault that this court is ill prepared.”


The American was docked a point toward the end of the second set after appearing to curse at 51st-ranked Babos.


Vandeweghe told reporters she was not happy about Babos getting “in her face” but the Hungarian denied trying to rile her up.


“She always does that (loses her temper),” Babos said. “A couple of rackets are broken every match, this time it was I believe a time violation, but I’m not sure.


“The second one I believe was an insult against me. If the umpire heard it then it must have been this.”


Vandeweghe became the third of four American women who made the semifinals at last year’s US Open to fall at the first hurdle at Melbourne Park.


US Open champion Stephens, the 13th seed, was bundled out in three sets by China’s Zhang Shuai. It was her eighth successive defeat since her maiden grand slam triumph.


Fifth seed Williams, who lost last year’s final at Melbourne Park to her sister Serena, was beaten in two sets by resurgent Swiss Belinda Bencic.


Venus praised her opponent for playing “above and beyond” but was otherwise tight-lipped and sullen during her post-match media duties.


Isner was sent packing in four sets by unfancied local Matthew Ebden while Sock slipped to a 6-1, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3 defeat by 41st-ranked Japanese Yuichi Sugita.


Ryan Harrison was a rare shining light as he battled manfully to defeat Israeli Dudi Sela in a tough five-setter. There was also a dominant victory for Nicole Gibbs and Mackenzie McDonald won a battle of qualifiers.


They were mere scraps on a day when the star spangled banner was left decidedly mangled.


“I don’t know, it’s a tough sport,” said Sock. “Obviously, it wasn’t my day ... it wasn’t some of the American women’s day but I guess that it happens and that’s tennis.”


TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhaniwarned Tuesday to exit the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers ifthe U.S. keeps on imposing new sanctions, he said in a televisedaddress.


Rouhani's comments come with the nuclear deal under mountingpressure after Tehran carried out missile tests, and Washingtonimposed new sanctions -- with each accusing the other of violatingthe spirit of the agreement.


Rouhani warned that Iran was ready to exit the 2015 deal, whichsaw the lifting of most international sanctions in return for curbson its nuclear programme, if Washington persisted.


He said Iran did prefer to stick with the nuclear deal, which hecalled "a model of victory for peace and diplomacy over war andunilateralism" but that this was not the "only option".


Rouhani said Trump had shown he was an unreliable partner notjust for Iran but for the U.S. allies.


Iran's parliament on Sunday approved more than half a billiondollars in funding for the country's missile programme and foreignoperations of the elite Revolutionary Guards in response to the newU.S. sanctions. Enditem


HONG KONG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong stocks rose for a second day on Thursday, jumping 1.74 percent as heavyweights gained.


The benchmark Hang Seng index added 390.74 points to end at 22, 828.18, after trading between 22,866 and 22,432. Turnover totaled 64.5 billion HK dollars (about 8.6 billion U.S. dollars).


The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 151.74 points, or 1. 55 percent, to close at 9,957.77.


All four sub-indices gained ground, with the Commerce and Industry sub-index rising the most by 2.74 percent, followed by the Utility 1.25 percent and the Finance 1.08 percent. The Properties increased 0.81 percent.


Banking giant HSBC, whic