Sloane’s double delight
AMERICAN Sloane Stephens had cause for a double celebration on Tuesday after beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-2 to set up a Miami Open semi-final clash with former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.
The US 13th seed’s comprehensive triumph in tricky wind conditions over the former world No.1 ensured Stephens reached the last four at Key Biscayne for the first time.
It also means the reigning US Open champion will finally be named in the world’s top 10 when the WTA releases its rankings next week.
She will meet two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka for a place in Saturday’s final after the Belarusian beat fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-3.
“I am so tired of hearing that I am number 11 in the world,” said a smiling Stephens.
“It’s very exciting to get there, something I have wanted to do for a while. Getting into the top 10 is pretty special and something I have worked on for a long time.”
Azarenka, meanwhile, is enjoying her best tournament run since the birth of her first child in December of 2016 and faces Stephens just three weeks after the pair met in Indian Wells, a match won by the American 6-1, 7-5.
In an error-strewn clash with world No.6 Pliskova, Azarenka, who was given a wildcard into the tournament thanks to a ranking of 186, was broken when serving for the first set only to break back straight away and take control.
The pattern continued at the start of the second, yet the 28-year-old held her nerve to reach the last four of a tournament she won in 2009, 2011 and 2016 and complete a return to the top 100.