Defending champion Sloane Stephens stays the course at US Open
Sloane Stephens produced another solid display to stay on course to successfully defend her US Open title.
The third seed proved too good for Elise Mertens as she secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Belgian to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Sealed with a forehand 🚀!@SloaneStephens blasts her way past Mertens 6-3, 6-3 to reach the QF…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/EJWYf152h9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2018
Stephens broke a couple of times in the opening and three times in the second, although the 15th seeded Mertens did have the consolation of breaking the American once in each set.
Next up for Stephens is Anastasija Sevastova after the Latvian upset seventh seed Elina Svitolina from Ukraine 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
“Obviously it won’t be easy,” Stephens said. “Quarter-finals of a Grand Slam is always really tough. A big opportunity for both of us. Being defending champion, being able to get to the quarter-finals again, is incredible.
“I’m just going to try to keep building on that and keep going.”