OPEN REIGN-OUT
This time, Sloane Stephens could not take advantage of her breaks.
In the first set of her U.S. Open quarterfinal match Tuesday against Anastasija Sevastova, Stephens had seven chances for her to break serve. Seven chances to take the lead against a tough opponent.
But unlike in last year’s Open, when Stephens seemed to ride a magic carpet to her first Grand Slam title as an unseeded player, she could not deliver.
Instead, the 19th-seeded Sevastova was the better player under the pressure and, ultimately, the winner, 6-2, 6-3, at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Obviously, the better player won,” the third-seeded Stephens said graciously.
While the USTA heat policy halted play on the outer courts, Stephens’ day match continued uninterrupted in 90degree temperatures and stifling humidity at Ashe.
“It was hot for both of us — she handled it better,” said Stephens, in a raspy voice that she attributed to a sinus infection.
Stephens, who beat Sevastova in three sets in last year’s quarters, could have suffered indigestion this time from the Latvian’s steady diet of slices and spins.
Nevertheless, Stephens gave herself credit for reaching the final eight in 2018.
“I could have (soiled) the bed in the first round and that would have been really bad,” she said. “But I got to the quarterfinals and played some really good matches and competed as hard as I could.”
Too bad she didn’t play as well as she could.
While Stephens failed to convert those critical break points in the first set, Sevastova won both of her break points, clinching the set with a crackling forehand passing shot.
“When you don’t play big points well, the match can get away from you,” Stephens said. “You don’t win matches when you don’t take advantage of opportunities. Mentally and physically, I just wasn’t connecting. It was a really tough day, and the heat didn’t make it any more fun.”
After Stephens broke serve to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the second set, she went ahead 40-15 on her serve. But two of her 28 unforced errors gave life to Sevastova, who then sliced a backhand winner for the break and a 5-3 lead.
When Stephens dumped a backhand into the net on match point, she was out and Sevastova was through to her first major semifinal. Quite a journey for Sevastova, who retired in 2013 because of an injured back, only to return in 2015.
Sevastova next faces Serena Williams, the No. 17 seed and six-time Open champion, who easily beat No. 8 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the night match.
Defending champ Sloane ousted in quarterfinals