World No. 64 Sloane Stephens admits she is positively surprised with her French Open as she is hoping to continue her run and potentially win her second Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Stephens arrived to the French Open without a win on clay and she wasn’t considered among top favorites for the French Open title at the start of the event.
Stephens was 0-4 on clay before coming to the French Open but has found her form at Roland Garros and she has been through to the last-16.
On Friday, Stephens defeated France’s Diane Parry 6-2 6-3 to progress into the last-16 at Roland Garros.
Stephens captured her first and lone Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2017.
The following year, Stephens ended runner-up at the French Open.
“Considering that I did not win a single match before coming into the French Open, I would say that I’m doing the absolute best that I can, and that I am pleased to be in the fourth round for the eighth time. I don’t think you ever know when it’s gonna happen or when it’s gonna click. … Happy to put the wins together now,” Stephens said, per the WTA website.
Stephens saw off Parry in straight sets
Stephens got off to a fast start, breaking Parry in the third and fifth games to open an early 4-1 lead.
Parry got one break back in the sixth game to cut the deficit to 2-4 but Stephens earned her third break of the set in the seventh game to take a 5-2 lead.
In the eighth game, Stephens converted her first set point to seal the opener.
After winning the first set, Stephens broke Parry in the first and fifth games to open a 4-1 lead.
Stephens then had a bit of a trouble closing out the match as she missed out on a match point in the seventh game and then failed to serve out for the match in the eighth game.
Parry won two consecutive games to cut the deficit to 3-5 but then failed to serve out the ninth game when she was serving to stay in the match.
Stephens plays Jil Teichmann next.