SLOANE DOES NAOMI A FAVOUR
American’s triumph gives winless Japanese star hope to move on
FORMER US Open champion Sloane Stephens overcame gallant Kiki Bertens in another marathon match at the WTA Finals, a result which breathes life into Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka’s teetering Singapore campaign.
The American struggled midmatch but fought back from an early break in the third set to prevail 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes.
It was the result crowd favourite Naomi needed after she fell to No 1 seed Angelique Kerber in a three-set classic to put her on the brink of elimination.
Like White Group, all players from Red Group can still qualify for the semi-finals although winless Naomi will need to rely on results to get through.
World No 6 Sloane has moved into pole position after her second straight victory.
“I just tried my very best from the first point in the third set and it didn’t go my way immediately but I just kept battling,” she said after the match.
Kiki said it was a “tough match.”
“In the beginning of the third she raised her level again... it was a really good match,” she said.
It was the sixth consecutive match to go the distance at the unpredictable WTA Finals.
A sharp moving Sloane started well and methodically constructed points to rattle Kiki before the Dutchwoman clawed back into the contest.
In the tournament’s first tie break, Sloane took advantage of a misfiring Kiki to draw first blood.
A gritty Kiki hit back in the second set, working Sloane around the court to take control of the rallies. A demoralised Sloane had no answer and her slump continued into the deciding set where she was broken in the second game.
But the twists continued with Sloane coming back from nowhere to break twice and reel off four straight games.
Kiki only qualified just days before the tournament after world number one Simona Halep withdrew due to injury.
Earlier, Angelique had a chance to serve it out against Naomi in the second set but triumphed the hard way in a pulsating 6-4, 5-7, 64 victory in two hours and 30 minutes.
The German appeared to be hampered by a back injury in the third set but dug deep and gained the crucial break in the seventh game.
“I will try to recover as soon as possible,” Angelique told reporters. “It was just one, two points which decided the match. I’m just happy that I won the battle.”
Naomi seemed to struggle at times with a left hamstring injury.
“It doesn’t feel good... it’s nothing that concerning, I think,” she said.
“This match was sort of a continuation of my last match in a way... that I didn’t serve well.”
With plenty at stake, both players made a nervous start in an error-riddled opening culminating in three straight breaks of serve.
An aggressive Naomi went for her shots but couldn’t find her irresistible range and a patient Angelique made her pay.
Much like against Sloane, a frustrated Naomi threw her racquet in disgust midway through the first set.
The experienced Angelique had all the answers, utilising her forehand down the line to great effect.
Angelique served for the match at 5-4 but Naomi blasted a flurry of winners to break back. She once again broke a flustered Angelique to take it into a third set for the first time between the pair.
Naomi had the momentum early in the third set but played a loose seventh game to drop serve and hand Angelique the defining break.
Tomorrow, Sloane will play Angelique and Naomi takes on Kiki in the final round-robin matches of Red Group.