Stephens Wins Thrilling WTA Finals Opener
The WTA Finals got underway this weekend with the top eight players in the world competing in Singapore, and Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka produced a thrilling match on Monday.
In a battle between the last two U.S. Open champions, it was Stephens who came out victorious in the opening round-robin match as she won 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
“I thought I played a really good match,” said Stephens. “I played solid from start to finish. Obviously playing someone with a lot of confidence is always a tough task, but I think that I played well and I kept a good attitude. So I was pleased with that.”
It was the first time competing at the end-of-the-year finals for both players and only the second meeting all-time between the two big-hitters.
Stephens is now 2-0 in her career against Osaka, and is now 1-0 inside the Red Group.
“I knew from the very beginning it was obviously going to be a tough match, so I was going to have to stay in a lot of long points and make sure that I made a lot of plays on the ball, which I did,” Stephens added.
Joining Stephens atop the Red Group is Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands. Bertens defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday.
On Sunday, Elina Svitolina beat Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova defeated Caroline Wozniacki in their round-robin openers.
