Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens endured a difficult start to her 2019 clay season at the Volvo Car Open in Charleston on Tuesday.
The world No.8 required more than two-and-a-half hours to edge her way past Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(4), 7-6(4). Battling back from a 2-5 deficit in the first set, Stephens dropped serve six times throughout the match. Hitting a total of 55 unforced errors to only 27 winners.
“Obviously, I was a little up and down emotionally,” Stephens told reporters afterwards. “But I just tried to stay with it the best I could and just kind of fight my way through the ups and downs.”
A former champion of the event back in 2016, Stephens is hoping for a strong run after suffering a series of disappointing results. In her past three tournaments, the American has failed to win back-to-back matches. Winning three out of six matches since the Australian Open, including her latest win over Sorribes Tormo. A player who she describes as having a unique playing style.
“[Sorribes Tormo] doesn’t play like most of the girls play,” wtatennis.com quoted the American as saying. “She hits a lot of slices. She runs around a lot, stays around the baseline. Just plays kind of a different game style than most. She hits a lot of moonballs. She just has a lot of different variations, so it’s tricky to play against her.”
“All in all the court was playing a little bit slow because it rained last night,” she continued. “It was a little sticky, and like I said, a lot of different factors, but I was happy to get through.”
Bidding to win her first WTA trophy on the clay in three years, Stephens will take on either Tamara Zidansek or Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. Should she win, the 26-year-old will reach her first quarter-final since the US Open in September.
Elsewhere in Charleston, defending champion Kiki Bertens enjoyed a more straightforward route into the last 16. The second seed thrashed Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-1, in just under an hour. Converting six out of her seven break point opportunities and winning 80% of her first service points. Bertens has won eight WTA titles so far in her career, with five of those occurring on the clay.
“It’s always tough for the first match on clay,” Bertens said after the match. “In the beginning, I was searching for the rhythm and not putting too much on the ball.
“From there, I started playing a little bit more aggressive, and in the end, I was happy with my game.”
Australian Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins also enjoyed a one-sided win. Brushing aside former top 40 player Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-1. She will next play Spain’s Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov.
