June 23, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Sloane Stephens had made the second week of play in her last six Grand Slam appearances but had that streak broken on Monday, as she fell on the first day at Wimbledon to Maria Kirilenko of Russia.
The American has developed a knack for playing well in Grand Slam tournaments, posting a career record of 31-12 in the four major events while only being 55-54 in all tournaments entering this year’s Wimbledon. However, she was unable to overcome a shaky serve and her Russian opponent and lost in straight sets during the grass-court tournament’s opening round.
While Stephens put 73 percent of her first serves in play, she was only able to win half of those points allowing Kirilenko to pick up some crucial break points. After failing to convert on a break point opportunity of her own, Stephens dropped the opening set 2-6.
The sloppy play carried into the second set for the 21-year old as she committed 15 unforced errors to just 13 winners. The poor ratio would eventually prove too costly as the second set would head into a tiebreaker. She would fend off five match points in the tiebreaker, but sailed a forehand wide which sealed the match for the Russian.
Stephens’ loss was not the only early upset on Monday as 2011 US Open champion and 17th-seeded Sam Stosur also dropped her first-round matchup, falling to Yanani Wickmayer of Belgium 3-6, 4-6.
