Slick Stephens sets up Keys rematch in Paris
US Open champion Sloane Stephens has dropped just one set in Paris, where she will face Madison Keys at the semi-final stage.
Published : Jun 05, 2018 21:46 IST
Sloane Stephens' best run at the French Open will take her into the semifinals after a clinical straight-sets win over Daria Kasatkina.
The US Open champion rose to the occasion in her first quarterfinal at Roland Garros, beating the 21-year-old Russian 6-4, 6-1 in only an hour and 10 minutes on Tuesday.
Stephens overpowered the 14th seed in an assured performance on Court Philippe Chatrier and has dropped just the one set in Paris.
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The American will now face friend and compatriot Madison Keys in a rematch of their final at Flushing Meadows, where she claimed a first major title last September.
Kasatkina showed flashes of her all-round quality, but the promising youngster's best grand-slam run ended in the last eight. Aggressive 10th seed Stephens reached to her right to put away a superb volley as she broke to take a 3-1 lead.
A nimble Kasatkina had to return on Monday to finish off her fourth-round clash with Caroline Wozniacki, but showed no signs of fatigue, breaking back when Stephens ended a long rally with an over-hit forehand.
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She was broken straight back, though, after Stephens unleashed a rasping forehand and went a set up when her opponent steered a forehand into the net.
Kasatkina was undeterred, showing her class with a blistering cross-court forehand winner as she held in the first game of the second set.
Stephens screamed after forcing an error from the youngster with a fierce inside-out forehand and there was a fist pump after she broke for another 3-1 lead.
An exquisite backhand drop shot from Kasatkina brought roars of appreciation from the crowd, but Stephens broke again with a brutal cross-court forehand winner and came up with another to sail through.
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STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Stephens [10] bt Kasatkina [14] 6-3 6-1
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Stephens – 17/18 Kasatkina – 10/25
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Stephens – 0/0 Kasatkina – 0/2
BREAK POINTS WON Stephens – 5/7 Kasatkina – 1/1
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Stephens – 83 Kasatkina – 75
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Stephens – 63/78 Kasatkina – 49/36
TOTAL POINTS Stephens – 64 Kasatkina – 43