On her five previous trips to Charleston, Sloane Stephens had won just one main-draw match, while this year she raced all the way to the trophy, saving one match point in the quarterfinals against Daria Kasatkina and then enjoying a retirement victory over defending champion and world No.2 Angelique Kerber in the semis, which was the American’s first Top 2 win (1-11 record).
First #WTA singles title on clay for @SloaneStephens! ? #VCO2016 https://t.co/eYkQ35SjhF
— WTA (@WTA) April 10, 2016
The seventh-seeded Stephens recorded a tough 7-6(4) 6-2 victory over Elena Vesnina in the final, who was the first finalist at the Volvo Car Open to have played in qualifying in the event’s 44-year history.
When @volvocarsglobal gifts you a car… #VCO2016 pic.twitter.com/ocZqgMrVXY — TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) April 10, 2016
Stephens won her third WTA title of the season, joining Victoria Azarenka for the most titles in 2016, while it’s also her first title on clay. Moreover, besides winning $128,100 in prize money and the trophy, Stephens won a new Volvo car and she was ecstatic about it, saying: “Oh my goodness, you guys! I just won a car!”
