Charleston Open 2021 - Ashleigh Barty switches to clay with ease, Sloane Stephens beats Madison Keys
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Updated 08/04/2021 at 08:46 GMT
Australia’s world number one dropped just three games on her way to beating Japan’s Misaki Doi, as she started her lead up to the French Open. Elsewhere, Sloane Stephens won the battle of the Americans, securing a straight sets victory, while Coco Gauff also reached the last-16 - but second seed Sofia Kenin is out.
Ashleigh Barty eased through her opening match at the Charleston Open
Image credit: Getty Images
World number one Ashleigh Barty settled into her clay court season in some style with an easy opening win at the Charleston Open.
The Australian dropped just three games in beating Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2, 6-1 to set up a last-16 meeting with Shelby Rogers, after the hometown player got past Amanda Anisimova.
The match was Barty’s first on the surface since switching from hard courts, as she builds up to next month’s French Open, which has been postponed by a week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I had to use it as an opportunity to try and build some comfort," Barty said.
I think having a couple days between Miami and playing this first match was important, to have my body rest, but to also try and prepare to change surfaces. It was a very quick turnaround, but I felt great out there tonight.
In a re-run of the 2017 US Open final, Sloane Stephens was once again the victor against Madison Keys, sealing a 6-4, 6-4 win to reach the third round, where she’ll face Ajla Tomljanovic.
Elsewhere, Coco Gauff needed to come from a set down to beat Liudmila Samsonova, eventually powering back and taking the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, but second seed Sofia Kenin suffered a three-set defeat to Lauren Davis, who’ll meet Gauff next.
Alize Cornet, Danka Kovinic, Veronika Kudermetova, Ons Jabeur, Caty McNally and Kurumi Nara also advanced.
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