American Sloane Stephens was in the verge of losing her opening match at the US Open 2013 Championships on Monday but played just in time to overcome the tough challenge of Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella in a three-set thriller at the Louis Armstrong Stadium 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
“I got off to a really slow start – I was nervous, tight, hands were shaking, couldn’t find my rhythm,” Stephens said about her struggles during the early part of the match. “I thought she also played pretty well in the first set.”
“In the second set I tried to get off to a good start, but obviously you’re thinking, ‘Somebody can’t play this well the whole time,’ but she really did. So I just kind of had to fight and battle out there,” she added.
“In the third set I thought we both played really well. I came out with the win. But I thought she played some awesome tennis the whole time. All credit to her. I thought it was a pretty good match.”
The young American will next face Urszula Radwanska of Poland. The Pole won her opening match 6-1, 6-3 against Irina-Camelia Begu.
