16-year-old Sloane Stephens gets first WTA Tour win in first round at Indian Wells
By APThursday, March 11, 2010
Stephens gets first WTA Tour win at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Sloane Stephens got her first victory on the WTA Tour, beating Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday.
Stephens, who at No. 747 is the lowest-ranked player to win a main draw match at this event, led, 5-2, in the second set and had match point on serve in the ninth game, then had to rally from 3-6 down in the second-set tiebreaker.
Fellow American Shenay Perry lost to Karolina Sprem, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in another first-round match.
In the men’s draw, former No. 1 Carlos Moya, 33, of Spain led the advance to the second round, but made more than 50 unforced errors and struggled mightily to beat American qualifier Tim Smyczek, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5).
