SLOANE Stephens showed she means business at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, taking a huge scalp on day one. The US Open winner has struggled with consistency over the past few years, but she made not mistake in putting together a big win against two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, 6-3 6-4.

In just 77 minutes of action Stephens continued her impressive record against the Czech 10th seed to move to a 3-1 head-to-head statistic. She only hit the 12 winners to eight in a patient battle between the players, but broke three times to one, and capitalised on 78 per cent of her first serve points, as well as 42 per cent of her receiving points.

“I haven’t played on grass in two years. This is my first match back. I think for me it was more of just executing my game. I knew I needed to serve well and return well,” Stephens said post-match.

“Obviously a lefty on grass is like your worst nightmare. I was super prepared to be diving for balls on the return, but I knew that I had to fight for every ball and make sure that I got my racquet on a lot of those balls.

“I did that super well today. Instead of being super passive, I was super aggressive on the returns. I was trying to make her play and be on her back foot. Obviously she likes to play super aggressive and inside the court. I knew I needed to play first-ball tennis, and I did that pretty well today, which is good.

“It’s a great build, a great first match. Obviously, grass or not, wanting to get a good win like this is really important. I think not only for this tournament but going into the rest of the season, for me, it’s pretty big. I’m excited to have a good win here and hopefully continue to play some good tennis.”

Her win was the major upset of the day, with only one other seed – 29th seeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova – falling on the day. Kudermetova went down to Swiss talent Viktorija Golubic in an epic three sets, 3-6 6-1 11-9. That was one of two matches that required extra games beyond the allotted 13, with lucky loser Kristie Ahn making the most of her second chance, winning against Brit Heather Watson after a disappointing first set, 2-6 7-6 8-6.

Elsewhere, there were plenty of big wins to seeds, with the other six seeds in action not even dropping a set. Garbine Muguruza showed no mercy against Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro, only dropping one game in a 6-0 6-1 50-minute demolition job. It was not a great day for the French athletes, with 18th seed Elena Rybakina also schooling the experienced Kristina Mladenovic, trouncing her 6-4 6-0 in 66 minutes. Ekaterina Alexandrova strolled past Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-3 in less than an hour, as did Lauren Davis over Jodie Burrage, whilst fourth seed Sofia Kenin needed just the 63 minutes to post a 6-4 6-2 win over 19-year-old Xinyu Wang.

At the top end, second seed Aryna Sabalenka and seventh seed Iga Swiatek both advanced without any problems, joining other winners, American Danielle Collins, Colombian Maria Osorio Serrano, Romanian Irina Camelia Begu, Dutchwoman Lesley Pattinama Kerkove, and the only Brit competitor to survive day one, Katie Boulder, in the second round.

WIMBLEDON ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

[2] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defeated [Q] Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6-1 6-4
[4] Sofia Kenin (USA) defeated [Q] Xinyu Wang (CHN) 6-4 6-2
[7] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (TAI) 6-4 6-4
Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated [10] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6-3 6-4
[11] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) defeated Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-0 6-1
[18] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-4 6-0
[23] Madison Keys (USA) defeated [Q] Katie Swan (GBR) 6-3 6-4
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) defeated [29] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 3-6 6-1 11-9
[32] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) defeated Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-1 6-3
[LL] Kristie Ahn (USA) defeated Heather Watson (GBR) 2-6 7-6 8-6
Lauren Davis (USA) defeated [WC] Jodie Burrage (GBR) 6-2 6-1
Danielle Collins (USA) defeated Polona Hercog (SLO) 4-6 6-3 6-2
[Q] Maria Osorio Serrano (COL) defeated [Q] Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 1-6 6-0 6-4
Irina Camelia Begu (ROU) defeated [Q]  Katie Volynets (USA) 6-4 7-5
[Q] Lesley Pattinama Kerkove (NED) defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 6-3 6-3
[WC] Katie Boulder (GBR) defeated [Q] Danielle Lao (USA) 6-7 6-3 6-4

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