Home Sport Tennis

Stoic Sloane Stephens fights through to Australian Open fourth round

Former US Open champion Stephens, a semi-finalist Down Under in 2013, won 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/5) to set up a last 16 clash with Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Published: 19th January 2019 01:23 AM | Last Updated: 19th January 2019 01:23 AM | A+A A-

United States' Sloane Stephens celebrates after defeating Croatia's Petra Martic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. | AP

By AFP

MELBOURNE: American fifth seed Sloane Stephens edged into the Australian Open fourth round Friday after outlasting 31st seed Petra Martic of Croatia in a battle of attrition at Melbourne Park.

Former US Open champion Stephens, a semi-finalist Down Under in 2013, won 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/5) to set up a last 16 clash with Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

"It was such a good match," the 25-year-old said. "She's a great player, it was a tough match. I'm just really happy to be playing some good tennis."