Sloane Stephens added a big win over Britain’s Heather Watson in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) in her duel to the second round of the WTA 250 series in Austin. The American will meet the Russian Varvara Gracheva in the quarterfinals.
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A good match between two experienced players like Stephens and Watson on Wednesday at WTA Austin. Sloane Stephens finished as a clear favorite in the Texan tournament in fifth place. The American did not start the year well, losing his first three matches, although he later recovered in Mérida to reach at least the quarter-finals. This week he beat fellow countryman Taylor Townsend in his debut.
For him Heather Watson There was a good buzz coming in Austin, which surpassed the previous stage and was now looking for a way to the quarterfinals. The British tennis player defeated Loeb and Argentina’s Carlé in the qualifying match, while he later beat Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic in the first round.
Six previous clashes between the two players history tied 3-3. The most recent of the crossovers took place in the first round of Indian Wells 2021, where Stephens won in three sets.
Stephens to quarterfinals in Austin
The start of the match would be rather irregular, with one break per team in the first two games. Little by little, the development stabilized, and Stephens showed a better level with his serve, which created opportunities with the return. Thus, the former Top 10 got two straight stops to get an unexpected 5-2 margin on the scoreboard. Watson wanted to fight back and not only was he going to return the break, he would take 0-40 in 4-5 to level the tale. However, Sloane saved those break points and ended the first set 6-4.
Nothing from the Briton’s poor recovery at the end of the previous set could last this second, and the American reeled off two more breaks in a row to make it a commanding 4-0. But in this case, as before, Watson came through and leveled the scores. Even so, the American added the break again to take a 5-4 lead and later claimed victory in straight sets.
