Sloane Stephens (13), the 2017 US Open champion, has not won a match since, and so will be struggling in her opening battle with Shuai Zhang, ranked 36, and winning In Honolulu and Japan at the end of last year.
The match is on Margaret Court Arena.
Zhang served first and a double fault helped Stephens to a break point. A forehand winner saved that and both players traded winners from both sides before an error from Zhang created another break chance which Stephens converted with a wonderful backhand winner down the line.
Zhang’s forehand was instrumental in breaking back for 1-1.
A brilliant American backhand on top of careless errors from the Chinese racquet, caused a much quicker service break and 2-1.
Consistent ground strokes from Stephens and she was the first to hold serve and she led 3-1.
Two holds of serve and then Stephens struck once more and would serve for the set at 5-2.
An ace saved a break point and another brought up set point. A poorly played drop shot and deuce again.
Finally an errant backhand from Zhang gave Stephens the set 6-2.
Zhang began set two free of the error filled display from the previous set and raced to 3-0, thanks to one break of the Stephens serve. A love game to the thirteenth seed kept her in touch and after seven points in succession she held three break back points. The conversion arrived on the second of these and Zhang’s ascendency had been halted, the lead now 3-2.
Two blistering winners from Zhang gave her the edge once more at 4-2, but three misses on her own serve let Stephens back in. A forehand winner on the third chance and the scoreboard gave us 3-4 to the American with her to deliver next.
Stephens levelled the set for the first time 4-4.
Attacking Zhang hard, three more break points came the way of Stephens and another clean winner set her up for a 5-4 lead and serving for the match.
Zhang fired up on the back of indifferent serving from Stephens and it was 5-5. A service hold and the lead was Zhang’s.
A superb drop shot and then an excellent forehand saw Stephens take the set into a tie breaker.
Zhang dominated and led 5-1 and despite Stephens fighting back there was no stopping Shuai who won the set 7-6(2).
Continuing the run Zhang won the first two games of the decider
A crucial second break in the seventh game presented Zhang with her opportunity to serve out the match.
A love game and Zhang defeated Stephens in a three setter 2-6 7-6(2) 6-2.
The thirteenth seed still hasn’t won since September.
No comments:
Post a Comment