Sloane Stephens has reached the final of the WTA Finals in Singapore after a horror start. The US-American defeated Karolina Pliskova after a playing time of 1:55 hours with 0:6, 6:4 and 6:1.
After 51 minutes of playing time there was finally something to cheer for Sloane Stephens. 6:0, 2:0 had led Karolina Pliskova at this point, but finally Stephens won her first game. And at the Czech’s serve.
For a few minutes the US Open winner of 2017 had found fun in this match again, even drew away to 3:2. Pliskova called Rennae Stubbs to the court, which helped at short notice, but at 5:4 Stephens still served on the win of the second run. One set point was missed by the US-American, the second set Pliskova with the backhand into the net. Compensation.
Stephens had won all three matches in the preliminary round, Pliskova defeated Petra Kvitova for the first time. The decision began with three breaks, to the disadvantage of the Czech, coach Stubbs was again in demand. Stephens didn’t fight it any harder, she went 5-1 away.
Elina Svitolina is waiting for Stephens in the final. The Ukrainian had also defeated Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands in three sets in the first semi-final of the day.