Sloane Stephens stunned at Pan Pacific Open as Johanna Konta cruises

Sloane Stephens fell at the first hurdle at the Pan Pacific Open as she went down in straight sets against Donna Vekic, who set up a second-round encounter against Johanna Konta.
Having reached the quarter-final of the US Open, Stephens came into the Tokyo event in reasonable form, but she came up short against the Croatian, losing 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 27 minutes.
It’s a straight-sets win for @donnavekic at @torayppo!
Takes out @sloanestephens 6-4, 6-4!#東レppoテニス pic.twitter.com/Izr68eIbdY
— WTA (@WTA) September 18, 2018
Vekic broke twice in the opening set and three times in the second although Stephens managed one break in the first set and two in the second.
Next up for Vekic is Konta, who eased to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Canadian qualifier Gabriela Dabrowski.
The British No 1 won 10 consecutive games to complete the demolition job in just 65 minutes.
.@JohannaKonta books her @TorayPPO second round spot!
Eases past Dabrowski 6-2, 6-0! pic.twitter.com/UzCaNoGJ4H
— WTA (@WTA) September 18, 2018
“It was a tough match, the scoreline didn’t show the quality of it,” she told wtatennis.com after the match.
“She definitely played really well in parts and I had to really raise my level to come through that.
“I had to be tough out there. She was playing some great tennis. I had to focus on every single point and accept she was going to play some good tennis.
“I thought it was an entertaining match, and I’m looking forward to playing another one here.”
Barbora Strycova also reached the second round as she beat Zarina Diyas 6-4, 6-4 while former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka will face Kurumi Nara later in the day.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
Australian Open
‘Players upset’ over Adelaide privileges afforded to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem
“It’s not apples and apples here, but apples and pears.”
-
News
More Australian Open players go into isolation taking number up to 72
Forty-seven had already been quarantined.
-
News
How Australian Open players are keeping themselves occupied in quarantine
A total of 47 players forced to quarantine.
-
News
Australian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned on a charter flight from LA.
-
News
Players were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players to remain in their hotel rooms.
-
Australian Open
Andy Murray’s waiting game as anger mounts after tennis players fly in for Australian Open
Will Andy Murray be allowed to fly to Melbourne?
-
News
Positive Covid cases on flights to Australia put 47 players in 14-day quarantine
Three people across two chartered flights carrying the Open hopefuls tested positive for coronavirus upon their arrival in Melbourne.
-
Tennis News
Bernard Tomic still has drive to compete, saying ‘I don’t need to play tennis again, I’ve got enough money’
“I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing.”
-
Tennis News
Dominic Thiem: ‘My wish for 2021 is to win a second Grand Slam title’
Dominic Thiem eyes a second Grand Slam trophy.