In an all-American clash, 2017 champion Sloane Stephens upset 17-year-old Coco Gauff at the US Open 2021 second round. However, the outcome does not convey the tennis they played on Arthur Ashe under closed roof. Stephens reached the third round for the seventh time in her professional career.
Before this match, the 28-year-old Stephens had overcome her best friend on Tour, Madison Keys, in three sets. Similarly, the teenager showed Poland’s Magda Linette an exit in the first round.
Moreover, it was the first professional meeting between Stephens and Gauff. But after this, it seems the two you would take on many more battles in the future. The final score of their match: 6-4, 6-2.
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Coco Gauff vs Sloane Stephens, Set 1: US Open 2021 R2
Both Gauff and Stephens started the match dominating their service game. Quickly, the two reached 2-2 in the opening set.
Until 3-3, the 21st seed Gauff had a 90% first serve conversion, whereas the unseeded Stephens had a 100% conversion rate. Indeed, there was nothing to differentiate the two so far.
Eventually, the experience came on top of the young, finding two break points at 4-4. Gauff, then, served her second double fault of the match, asking Stephens to suddenly serve for the opening set.
Despite saving a set point and enormous fan support behind her, the American teenager lost the set 6-4. Only one weak game cost her the set.
.@SloaneStephens takes the first set 6-4 over Coco Gauff
#USOpen pic.twitter.com/7ZLR2QbOmf
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2021
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Gauff vs Stephens, Set 2: US Open 2021 R2
For the second set, the duo again started building their game from the bottom. But this time, Stephens had to see off a break point to bring the set to 2-2.
Most significantly, the 28-year-old managed to unnerve Gauff in the fifth game of the second set. Her discpline resulted in getting her a set and a break lead. Hence, to come back in this match, the young American needed to pull up her socks.
Ultimately, the calm and collected Stephens got the better of Gauff. Although the teenager tried to keep up with the extraordinary returns from her opponent, she couldn’t.
At 5-2, the 28-year-old served for the match and comfortably closed it. Consequently, the American favorite Gauff is out of the tournament, losing to former champion 6-4, 6-2.
A clinical performance from @SloaneStephens, 6-4, 6-2, over Coco Gauff. pic.twitter.com/idALTp5gCT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2021
In the third round, Stephens will meet the winner between Angelique Kerber and Anhelina Kalinina. Given her resolution, she could go on to repeat 2017 this year.
Do you think Stephens can win the US Open 2021 title?
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