Sloane Stephens made a notable change by switching coaches, hoping to regain her former success. However, her first-round defeat at the U.S. Open has overshadowed any recent progress she has made. Despite her strong performances in previous tournaments, Stephens acknowledged that her early exit was disappointing. Nevertheless, she remains optimistic about the remaining competitions this year and is determined to make a comeback.
Unfortunately, Stephens’ struggle in Grand Slam events has become a recurring pattern this year. With first-round exits in both the Australian and U.S. Open, a second-round defeat at Wimbledon, and a fourth-round finish in the French Open, Stephens’ once-promising future seems to be slipping further away. As the former 2017 U.S. Open champion and World No. 3, she now finds herself ranked 64th in the world, struggling to reclaim her former glory.
In an attempt to revitalize her game, Stephens reunited with her former coach Kamau Murray, who guided her to her previous U.S. Open victory. Although their reunion has shown some positive results, with Stephens reaching the third round in Cincinnati and Cleveland, it unfortunately did not translate to success in the U.S. Open. Beatriz Haddad Maia, a semifinalist in the French Open, proved to be a formidable opponent, saving 11 of 15 break points and ultimately defeating Stephens.
Stephens acknowledged her opponent’s strong performance and admitted her own shortcomings in crucial moments of the match. Despite her efforts to fight back, she failed to capitalize on the opportunities presented to her. Haddad Maia’s powerful shots and consistent gameplay proved to be too much for Stephens to overcome.
Moving forward, Haddad Maia will face another American competitor, Taylor Townsend, in the second round. Townsend, who received direct entry into the main draw, secured a decisive victory over Varvara Gracheva from France.
Overall, Stephens’ unexpected first-round exit at the U.S. Open served as a setback in her journey to reclaim her former success. Nevertheless, she remains determined to improve her game and seize future opportunities to rise in the rankings once again.
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