Zhuhai: struggles continue for Stephens, Mladenovic

Sloane Stephens and Kristina Mladenovic have remained mired in their slumps after losses at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai on Wednesday.

Stephens, the US Open champion, has failed to win a set since her stunning fortnight at Flushing Meadows, falling 7-5 6-3 to Anastasija Sevastova.

It’s her third straight loss after opening-round defeats in Wuhan and Beijing.

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“Right off the bat, having to play [Sevastova] is really tough,” said Stephens, who beat the Latvian in a third-set tiebreak in the US Open quarterfinals.

“Her game is super tricky. I mean, you have to kind of be ready for everything. But I don’t think I played terribly. It’s just, you know, not someone you want to play in the first round of any tournament.”

Rybarikova converts her seventh match point to topple Mladenovic 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(5) @WTAEliteTrophy! pic.twitter.com/4SxLVygoBr

— WTA (@WTA) November 1, 2017

Still, Stephens’ losing streak barely comes close to that of Mladenovic’s; the Frenchwoman lost her 11th match in a row, this time to Magdalena Rybarikova.

Mladenovic, the top seed who recently cracked the top 10 despite going winless since August, fought for almost three hours and saved six match points before surrendering 7-5 1-6 7-6(5).

Medical timeout for Rybarikova in the 2nd set, looking at her hip and back. Tough turnaround after an evening match last night. #WTAFinals

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) November 1, 2017

“I think it was a great match,” a nonetheless upbeat Mladenovic said.

“It was especially a great battle. For sure it’s the best match I have played in a while.”

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Indeed, it was certainly the closest the Frenchwoman has gone to winning a match since she triumphed in the opening round in Washington DC.

She’ll aim to snap her losing streak when she takes on the in-form Julia Goerges in her final round-robin match.

Stephens next takes on Barbora Strycova.

In the other match of Wednesday’s schedule, Australia’s Ash Barty trounced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-1 and will hope to beat former world No.1 Angelique Kerber next to seal a semifinal spot.