Last year’s Grand Slam champion Sloan Stephens made a comfortable win over No. 15 seed Elise Mertens on Sunday to book a spot in this year’s US Open quarter-finals.
After losing to Mertens in the Western and Southern Open last month, Sloane struck 17 winners and converted 5 out of 9 break point chances to subdue the Belgian 6-3, 6-3.
Mertens came into this year’s US Open having won three titles this year. She had also beaten the American just two weeks ago. However, an energetic Stephens overcame an early serve loss to win the first set with a 72% win rate.
The second set was even more thrilling. Mertens started off on a high note and initiated a series of breaks and a big game where the No.3 seed won 9 out of 10 points. While she lost, the Belgian struck 35 unforced errors and had the better win rate in the second serve.
“I think defending a title is super tough. It doesn’t happen very often,” Stephens said after defeating Mertens. I think the expectation to come in here and win the tournament is just ridiculous. You have to take one match at a time.”
The defending champion faces Anastasija Sevastova in the quarter-finals. The two last met in Montreal and the American won. They also faced off in last year’s US Open at the same round in a scintillating match broken by a third set tie-break win to the defending champion.
