Sloane Stephens Wins 2nd Biggest Career Title at Miami Open

by Staff | March 31st, 2018, 5:17 pm
  • 17 Comments

Sloane Stephens is for real — at least on U.S. soil.
ADHEREL
The American on Saturday beat reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko to win the Miami Open, the second-biggest title of her career after the 2017 US Open, and her first of 2018.

Ostapenko hadn’t lost a set during the tournament before falling to Stephens 7-6(5), 6-1.

The American remains a perfect 6-0 in career finals and on Monday will debut in the Top 10 on the WTA rankings at No. 9.


“I always play well in the U.S., I don’t know why, I think it’s because of you guys,” she told the Miami crowd afterwards. “Jelena you had a great week…we played doubles in Australia, I’m sure we’ll play many more times and I look forward to it, congratulations.”

The No. 13-seeded Stephens righted the ship after a rough start that saw four straight breaks of serve between the two players. In the first-set tiebreak Stephens went up 6-2 before a comeback by Ostapenko that seemingly wouldn’t be stopped until the Latvian dumped an unforced error into the net trailing 5-6.

In the second set Ostapenko got an early break but it would be her only game as Stephens steamrolled to the title.

Stephens has put herself in prime position to climb the Top 10 ladder, defending no major points until August after sitting out last summer due to foot surgery.

Ostapenko was appearing in her first final of the year, and now enters the claycourt season when she has been most fruitful. Last year she won the French Open and was runner-up in Charleston.


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17 Comments for Sloane Stephens Wins 2nd Biggest Career Title at Miami Open

autoFilter Says:

Even though I’m well aware of why it’s the case, it’s still crazy to me that a slam winner is only just now poised to enter the Top 10 six+ months later.

Regardless, I hope maybe the higher seedings that result from this latest win will help her make a habit of performing consistently. I’m not much of a fan of hers, personally, but I appreciate when people who can play well do play well.


skeezer Says:

Congrats to Sloane, what a year for her so far.
——
Didn’t know where to put this but look whos playing together @ Wimby this year
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/939889/Roger-Federer-Rafael-Nadal-doubles-Wimbledon


Willow Says:

Rafa and Roger playing doubles together at SW19 fantastic news, really cant wait to see that, both sets of fans on the same side of the fence for once, many thanks for this link Skeezer, go on guys now go and win the title ;-)


Willow Says:

Congrats to Sloane on winning the title ….


Margot Says:

Well done Sloane! Hope she has a great year.


j-kath Says:

Skeezer: Re the 2-R’s as doubles – I wondered if it was an “April Fool” – hope not as it would be very entertaining.


Okiegal Says:

@JK…… You make a good point on the doubles deal and April Fools. That has been done before. I remember reading a shocker news item saying Rafa and his girlfriend had broken up and got to the end of the article and it said in big bold letters APRIL FOOLS!! I was glad it was a joke because I think they’re a gorgeous couple.

Congrats to Sloane and her fans on the Miami title, she played awesome!


j-kath Says:

Okiegal – especially as the newspaper is one of our “junkish” ones…..will be good if it’s true and if not, c’est la vie.

…..which reminds me, where is Courbon these days….think he was a fan of Nole and/or Roger????


Margot Says:

Kath: It looks mighty likely it’s a “fool” doesn’t it? And quite a good one too, just on the far, far edge of possibility. :)


Okiegal Says:

I miss Courbon too! Courbon, come out come out wherever you are!!! I think DiNiro said that in a movie one time….. he was creepy in it…….Cape Fear maybe????


skeezer Says:

It could have been an April Fools joke, we will know soon enough. Not a surprise to me that they would play together though and it would be pretty cool(They seemed like they thoroughly enjoyed it @ Lavers Cup). But playing doubles at all at a Slam? Errr…
—-
Well now we will have Tennis drought…..we are on to the Clay season, and only one Masters scheduled for all of April. May looks good though of course, culminating with La Decima plus one?


Willow Says:

April fool or not, i still think they would make a fantastic doubles pairing ….


Humble Rafa Says:

It doesn’t take much to fool a guy with cats. No surprise there.


Markus Says:

A Federer-Nadal pairing would command a huge appearance fee. They can live off on that for the rest of their post-competitive lives.


Humble Rafa Says:

La Decima plus one

You know there is a number that is 10+1. It may be beyond your understanding but some people can do the match and name 10+1.


RZ Says:

Wonderful win for Sloane. She has said in the past that she loves playing on clay. Maybe she can be a FO contender?


RZ Says:

Fed and Rafa playing dubs at Wimby? Definitely an April Fool’s joke.

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