Stephens shines: a dominant victory over Mertens at San Diego Open

Sloane Stephens delivered a convincing performance as she defeated Elise Mertens with a score of 6-1, 6-3 in the opening round of the San Diego Open.

Following the conclusion of the US Open, the action on the WTA Tour continues with the WTA 500 San Diego Open. This tournament provides an opportunity for several players who may have faced disappointments at Flushing Meadows to earn valuable ranking points, while others take a well-deserved break after two hectic weeks.

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who was the 19th seed, faced off against the world No. 29, Elise Mertens. Mertens, previously seeded 32nd at the US Open, reached the third round of that tournament before succumbing to the eventual champion, Coco Gauff. This performance contributed to a slight improvement in her ranking.

The first set of their San Diego Open encounter saw Stephens take a commanding 4-0 lead after securing two consecutive breaks. Despite the lopsided score, the early games were fiercely contested. However, the American excelled in crucial points, allowing her to establish a comfortable advantage. Although Mertens managed to break back once, it proved to be a temporary setback as she couldn't hold her serve for the third consecutive time, ultimately surrendering the set 6-1.

Mertens started the second set by holding her serve for the first time and even had a break point in the subsequent game. However, she couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. Three consecutive breaks (two for Stephens and one for Mertens) once again tilted the match in favor of the American. Stephens then saved three break points and secured a 4-2 lead.

Despite Mertens holding her serve for the second time in the set, Stephens remained solid on her own serve. She eventually capitalized on her first match point to close out the set 6-3, securing the victory in one hour and thirteen minutes.

Sloane will face second seed Caroline Garcia this time, who was a semifinalist in the 2022 US Open and only played the first round this year, resulting in a significant drop in her ranking, leaving her on the verge of falling out of the top-10.