By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, April 21, 2024
Sloane Stephens streaked through five of the final six games scoring a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 win over Magda Linette in the Rouen final for her eighth championship.
Photo credit: Elsa/Getty
Sloane Stephens has a well-earned reputation as one of tennis' smoothest movers.
The 31-year-old Stephens showed convincing closing kick today.
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Stephens streaked through five of the final six games scoring a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 win over Magda Linette in the Rouen final for her eighth career championship.
It is Stephens' first singles crown since the 2022 Guadalajara and her first indoor championship.
"Coming here was kind of a last-minute decision, so I'm really happy to be through and win another title," Stephens said afterward. "It's my first title indoors, I think, so that's really nice and really cool, and just a really nice way to start off the clay-court swing."
It was Stephens' first singles final since the WTA 125 Saint Malo, France final last May. It comes two weeks after Stephens won her maiden doubles title in Charleston partnering 19-year-old compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.
The 2017 US Open champion Stephens raised her WTA finals record to 8-3 wrapping up a dynamic week of play that saw her defeat talented American Peyton Stearns, former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, fourth-seeded Yue Yuan, second-seeded Caroline Garcia and Linette in the final.
The victory vaults former world No. 3 Stephens up to No. 33 in the live rankings.
Stephens joins Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Miami and Charleston champion Danielle Collins, Madison Keys and Emma Navarro as one of five American women ranked inside the world's Top 35.