Stephens Begins 2016 With Win in Auckland
American Sloane Stephens began her 2016 campaign with a victory on Monday, downing Slovenian Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-3 at the ASB Classic in Auckland, Australia.
The fifth-seed Stephens raced out to an early lead, winning 12 of the first 13 points. And despite Hercog making a late surge in the opening set, Stephens closed out the first frame with a break point.
The second set was very similar, as the American jumped out to an early advantage only to see Hercog crawl her way back, but Stephens dug in when she needed to, and closed out the opening-round match in straight sets.
The win comes in Stephens’ first match with Kamau Murray as her coach. She recently split with former coach Nick Saviano.
“I thought I played well at times,” said Stephens. “Obviously the first match of the year is always tough because you haven’t played in awhile. I was happy to get the win, but there a lot of things to work on.”
Stephens will try and work on those things when she takes on Germany’s Carina Witthoeft next. Witthoeft defeated her compatriot Tatjana Maria 6-2, 7-6(3) in her opening round match.
In an all-American first-round match, Washington Heights’ Irina Falconi fought back from a set down to upend Coco Vandeweghe 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
