Stephens’ exit adds to American woes
Some of it can be chalked up to injuries. A bad draw has obviously contributed, too.
But after five days, the U.S. Open has not been kind to American women.
Another hit came Friday afternoon when 2017 champion Sloane Stephens failed to build off a strong start in a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 loss to No. 16 Angelique Kerber at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Ranked 66th in the world after shaky play the last two years, Stephens entered the match coming off quality victories over fellow Americans, and close friends, Madison Keys and No.
22 seed Coco Gauff.
Stephens began well, making it seem like a big run was possible for her here. But then she hit a wall in an avalanche of errors and poor serving, more reminiscent of her struggles in past events.
Stephens’ exit leaves just two American women left. And both are underdogs in their upcoming matches, with Shelby Rogers set to face No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and No. 23 Jessica Pegula to meet No. 11 Belinda Bencic on Saturday. Danielle Collins, the No. 26 seed, fell to No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka on Friday night, leaving just Rogers and Pegula.
There was hope Stephens could pick up for the absence of three big-name American women. Serena and Venus Williams didn’t take part in the tournament due to injuries and Sofia Kenin, the fifth-ranked player in the world, pulled out after recently testing positive for COVID-19.
Barring a surprising run from Pegula or Rogers, the second week of the U.S. Open will be without an American woman.
After connecting on 83 percent of her first serves in her upset win over Gauff, Stephens couldn’t replicate that consistency. Kerber, a three-time major champion, broke Stephens twice in the second set and twice more in the third. Stephens lost the match with an unforced error on her forehand — one of 39 on the day.
“After the first set where she played really well, especially in important moments, I was just trying to stay in the match, being ready for every single ball,” Kerber said. “The third set I think at the end, two, three points decide the match. I was just focusing on every single ball and taking my chances, being ready, being aggressive.”