Stephens Topples Muguruza At French; Halep Continues Title Defense

by Staff | June 2nd, 2019, 4:18 pm
  • 1 Comment

Sloane Stephens got off to a slow start but after dropping a break, she found the range against 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza in a strong 6-4, 6-3 win.

“I thought it was a good match,” Stephens said. “I thought we both played really well. It was very competitive.

“She’s been playing some good tennis, and I think so have I. So it was kind of just a little battle, but obviously the score sometimes doesn’t reflect what was actually happening out there.”


Stephens, the 2018 finalist and the highest seed left in the bottom half, has how won 10 of her last 11 matches at the French Open which is turning into her best Slam.

Next will be a very in-form Johanna Konta who ripped Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-4 to reach her first Slam quarterfinal in almost two years.

“It was a good match. I mean, I thought I had very, very few drops in my level, which I think definitely kept the pressure on her and in trying to find a solution,” Konta said.

Konta just beat Stephens on clay in Rome last month.

“I have only been at this stage a handful of times,” Konta said. “So to be back here, I’m definitely very pleased. This is not my end goal or anything. I would love to be here till the very end, but I’m also really doing my best at really enjoying the different matches I get to play and the different accomplishments that I get to experience.”

Nineteen-year-old Marketa Vondrousova continued her breakout Slam destroying Anastasija Sevastova 6-2, 6-0 to advance to her first Slam quarterfinal.

The lefty hasn’t come close to dropping a set in four matches. Her next foe will be the hot-handed Petra Martic who fended off some late break points to deny Kaia Kanepi in a tight three setter 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

“It was tough mentally for me today,” said Martic. “Especially because I was stopped four times before in the fourth round… I was doubting whether I was ever going to get that fourth round. Two years ago I was two points away. Didn’t happen. Today it played a role in my mind. It was not always easy to focus on my game, but I really just tried to fight as hard as I could, and thank God, I finally made it.

“Emotions played a big role today. She also wanted it badly, you could see.”

Tomorrow sees the return of defending champion Simona Halep who takes on 18-year-old Pol Iga Swiatek.

Madison Keys, Ash Barty and Amanda Anisimova are also in action for the last quarterfinal berths.


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One Comment for Stephens Topples Muguruza At French; Halep Continues Title Defense

RZ Says:

Was surprised to see that Sloane pulled off the win. The first few games in that match were dismal. But good for her for pulling her game together and grinding out the win.

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