NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former champion Sloane Stephens overcame best friend Madison Keys’ aggressive play to secure a 6-3 1-6 7-6(7) win in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday.
The 2017 winner quickly took control of the first set on Arthur Ashe Stadium, putting up a strong defensive performance to fend off three break points as Keys committed 15 unforced errors.
But Keys roared back in the second, winning all of her first-serve points and fired off 11 winners compared to just three from Stephens, who struggled to find her power.
After trading breaks in the third set, they headed into a tiebreak, where Keys’ unforced errors proved to be her undoing. After fending off two match points, she shouted in frustration as she whacked the ball into the net to set up a third.
It was the first time the pair had met on Ashe since Stephens defeated her in the final four years ago for her first – and thus far only – major title.
“We’re both looking to get back that form we had in 2017. Maddy is my best friend on tour and it is always difficult for us but we’re always able separate the match and come out and compete,” said Stephens.
“I thought today we played a really solid match.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
