NEW YORK (Reuters) – France’s Clara Burel fought back from being bageled in the first set to defeat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 0-6 7-5 7-5 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday, kicking off the opening night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Burel looked rattled in the glare of the New York spotlight but after settling down and eliminating some clumsy mistakes early on she outfoxed her more experienced opponent to advance to a second-round match against Victoria Azrenka.
“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning and Sloane was playing really well,” said Burel. “I just kept fighting and I found a way.”
Stephens was ruthless out of the gate, relying on her forehand and making few mistakes, and Burel could only shake her head in disbelief when the American closed out the opening set after just 21 minutes.
It looked as though it would be an easy win for Stephens as she built a 0-3 lead in the second but when her form began to unravel Burel pounced, clawing her way back as she sent shots to the American’s vulnerable backhand.
The Frenchwoman broke her opponent to love to close out the second set, prompting Stephens to briefly leave the court before the start of the third.
The pair traded breaks three times in a tense and nervy third set before Burel broke from the baseline to close out the match.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
