Stephens Hangs On to Reach French Open Round of 16

May 31, 2019 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
CROP_Sloane_Stephens_Credit_USTA_Darren Carroll
Credit Photo: USTA/Darren Carroll

 

Sloane Stephens outlasted Polona Hercog to reach the French Open Round of 16 on Friday, notching a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in two hours and 32 minutes.

Last year’s finalist and the seventh seed overcame 43 unforced errors off her racket, but took advantage of 56 from Hercog to book her spot in the second week at Roland Garros.

She meets former champion Garbine Muguruza next. The 19th seeded Spaniard, who won the tournament in 2016, ousted ninth-seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.

“I managed to dominate and play cleverly, and that gave results,” said Muguruza. “I am very pleased about this match and it will give me a lot of confidence. I’m trying to approach each match like a final and I’m giving the best I have. I don’t know what it is about Roland Garros that gives me a nice mood and my tennis develops much better, [but] I feel very good in this tournament.”

Earlier in the day, 31st seed Petra Martic upset second-seed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3, and will take on Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi next. Kanepi beat Veronika Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in her third-round match on Friday.

On the men’s side, 11-time champion Rafael Nadal moved past 27th seeded Belgian David Goffin 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, while Roger Federer notched a straight-sets win over Casper Ruud of Norway.

Nadal will square off against Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero for a spot in the quarterfinals, while Federer meets another Argentine, Leonardo Mayer, in his fourth round match.

Seventh-seed Kei Nishikori needed four hours and 26 minutes to beat 31st seeded Serb Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 4-6, 8-6. Up next for Nishikori is Frenchman Benoit Paire.

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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