WTA Finals: Stephens aiming for semifinals

Published by Matt Trollope

Sloane Stephens is 2-0 in round-robin play at the WTA Finals; Getty Images
A win over Angelique Kerber would see Sloane Stephens complete a clean sweep of the WTA Finals Red Group and join Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.

Sloane Stephens is in prime position to qualify for the semifinals in Singapore on the eve of the final day of round-robin matches.

The American currently leads the Red Group with a 2-0 win-loss record after beating Naomi Osaka and Kiki Bertens in three sets.

A win over Angelique Kerber on Friday night will cement her place in the semifinals.

There she would join Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova, who both scored wins on Thursday night .

Svitolina defeated defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 5-7 7-5 6-3 to finish 3-0 and on top of the White Group ahead of Pliskova, who beat countrywoman Petra Kvitova in straight sets. Kvitova went winless in Singapore.

“This round robin is not easy, no easy matches, no easy scenarios,” said Svitolina, who needed to win just one set to ensure her progression to the semifinals.

“I had to fight for every ball, and I think today I was really pushed mentally to go through really tough moments, because to play against Caroline, you always have to put one extra ball over the net.”

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Svitolina’s form reversal in Singapore has been stunning given she arrived at the tournament having lost four of previous six matches.

Pliskova’s performance has been less surprising given her recent title in Tokyo and run to the final in Tianjin a week out from Singapore.

But she nonetheless beat Kvitova for the first time in four tries to reach the semis in Singapore for the second straight year.

“I feel good. I was pretty positive even after the match that I lost against Svitolina. I think my game is just completely fine. There is no reason to panic or there is no reason to just feel bad about something,” Pliskova said.

“I think my shots are pretty solid, so I can play anywhere.”

Even if Stephens loses to Kerber, she can still join Pliskova and Svitolina in the final four if Osaka beats Bertens – that result would see the Japanese and the Dutchwoman finish with 1-2 records and unable to surpass Stephens and Kerber in the group standings.

The only way Stephens misses out is if she loses to Kerber while Bertens beats Osaka.

But even then, should Stephens lose in three sets to Kerber, and Bertens requires three sets to beat Osaka, Stephens could still qualify on a countback given she, Kerber and Bertens would all have finished with 2-1 records.

“Looking forward to it. I’ve played well against her in the past. Just gotta go to battle,” said Stephens, who owns a winning 4-1 record over Kerber and has won their past four meetings in straight sets.

“Obviously every match is a tough match and every match counts. Just going to go out and compete my hardest and hopefully get another win.”

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