In Charleston, 2016 champion Stephens survives fear after a slow start | TENNIS.com



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CHARLESTON, SC (AP) – Top-ranked Sloane Stephens of the United States has survived Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) to qualify for the Volvo Car Open on Tuesday. WTA.

Stephens, the US Open champion in 2017, needed almost 2 hours and 40 minutes to put Tormo in the first tournament of the season on clay. The 2016 Volvo Car Open champion has not been tense for several pbades. She fell behind Sorribes Tormo 5-2 in the first set before recovering. Stephens also lost two points to 5-4 in the second set before winning the tiebreaker.

Defending champion Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, seeded second, beat Martina Trevisan of Italy 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round.

Bertens was keen in the win, requiring less than an hour to dispatch Trevisan.

The start of the game was delayed by three hours because of the rain.

The other top seeds that have progressed are No. 11 Danielle Collins of the United States, No. 12 Mahaela Buzarnescu of Romania, No. 15 Maria Sakkari of Greece and No. 16 Petra Martic of Croatia.

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