Sloane Stephens and Sophie Ferguson make it to the second round qualifying draws of the Sony Ericsson Open
18-year-old wildcard entrant, Sloane Stephens from the United States, surprised everyone by defeating the qualifying fourth seed Russian Evgeniya Rodina in the opening round qualifiers of the Sony Ericsson Open at Miami, Florida
on Monday night. Stephens fought hard to clinch the three-set victory at 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, taking two hours and twenty four minutes of play.
It was a tremendous battle of abilities, with the American coming out as the winner in the end. Stephens had a sloppy start to the contest, struggling early to get settled in the game. By the time American got her eye in the game,
Rodina had already stung three serve breaks to her, leading the opener 5-3. The Russian served out of the first set, closing it at 6-3, to lead the match with one set to none.
The American teenager bounced back at her opponent in the following set of the contest by cracking an early serve break. Rodina levelled the scores at 4-4 with a break point, only to be broken in the very next game by Stephens.
The American served out of the second set at 6-4 to bring the contest on even terms.
Once gaining her winning momentum in the second set, Stephens cruised through the decider with ease, converting two of the five break chances to her advantage. She concluded her emphatic victory over the fourth seed by winning
the third set at 6-3.
Stephens will be facing the other wildcard from Australia, Sophie Ferguson, in the second round of the qualies. Ferguson got to the second round after overcoming the 14th seed Italian Alberta Brianti, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2,
in a tough competition lasting for two hours and sixteen minutes.
The contest was stuffed with plenty of unforced errors and break opportunities. Ferguson served with 67 per cent accuracy and converted five of the nine break opportunities in the game. The Aussie spilled seven double faults in
the game, but was less affected by them as Brianti threw away 10 double faults in the match.
Both of the contestants secured 50 percent of the total points being played in the match but it was the tremendous ability of Ferguson to collect crucial points which made the difference in the game. She had a rock solid defence
and denied her Italian opponent from breaking serve at eight different occasions. The Aussie cracked three serve breaks to bag the first set at 6-4 but Brianti turned the tables on her in the second set, winning it by 6-3.
Another momentum swing took place in the decider as Ferguson took hold of the set early by breaking the Italian serve to lead 3-1. The Aussie sealed off the contest at 6-2, by striking the second serve break of the third set and
ejecting the 13th seed from the tournament. Ferguson has to pass through Stephens in the second round for an appearance in the main draws of the Sony Ericsson Open.
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