Stephens gets hardcourt campaign off to winning start

Sloane Stephens began the buildup to her US Open title defence with a 75, 64 win over wildcard Bethanie MattekSands back on the American hardcourts at the Washington Open.

Stephens, who won her first career title in Washington in 2015, finished off MattekSands with her sixth ace of the match to book a second round meeting with Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, who was a 61, 61 winner over American Jamie Loeb.

It marked the fifth time in six meetings that Stephens has beaten fellow American Sands, all of the five other matches having been played on clay.

“I’m super excited to be back on hard courts again.

“I love running around out there,” Stephens said after the match.

“I felt super comfortable, which was good,” she said.

“Although the ball was coming really hard and she was crushing and rushing, I was ready.”

The third ranked Stephens is the top remaining seed in the draw after world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki withdrew earlier on Tuesday with a right leg injury.

Elsewhere, thirdseeded Naomi Osaka won her debut match at the Washington Open with a 62, 76 (74) over American Bernarda Pera while eigthseeded Donna Vekic broke Caroline Dolehide three times en route to a 63, 64 victory.

Romanian Ana Bogdan stunned fourth seed Ekaterina Makarova 76 (72), 63 and Kazakh Yulia Putintseva outlasted German Tatjana Maria 63, 36, 64. — Reuters