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Stephens sets US Open quarter-final rematch with Sevastova
NEW YORK, Sept 3, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion and third seed
Sloane Stephens marched into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday with
a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Belgian Elise Mertens.
Stephens, trying to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles at
Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams won in 2012, 2013 and 2014, lined up a
quarter-final rematch with Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, who upset seventh-
seeded Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
Stephens beat Sevastova in three sets in the quarter-finals last year,
trailing in the final set before winning it in a tiebreaker.
“In a tournament you have a couple of really tough matches you have to
battle through — that was one I had to dig deep,” Stephens said.
“I’m sure she’ll give me a tough match on Tuesday. I’m really looking
forward to it.”
Stephens, beaten by Mertens in Cincinnati in August, turned the tables with
a solid performance, converting five of her nine break chances.
That included a stinging forehand winner on her first match point.
“That was pretty good, huh?” she said, adding that it was “never easy”
against Mertens.
“I played a solid match from start to finish. I can’t ask for much more,”
said Stephens, who could face a semi-final meeting with Serena Williams if
she gets past Sevastova.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0841 hrs