Getting lost is one thing for Sloane Stephens; losing early is another

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.— Sloane Stephens is the defending champion at the Miami Open, but she got lost on her way to the new venue. As the dateline indicates, the tournament has moved from Crandon Park in Key Biscayne to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

"This is how much I didn't know where it was: When I drove here this morning I drove to the Hard Rock hotel," Stephens said on Wednesday. "I thought that's where it was."

The Hard Rock Stadium is about 11 miles (20 minutes) south of the Hard Rock Casino and serves as the home of the Miami Dolphins, and now to top-tier professional tennis.

She, like many others, was sad to see the Key Biscayne location get left behind.

"I've been going there since I was 14 years old, so sad times," Stephens said. "We're going to miss it, but they worked really hard on this venue and it looks great so far. Hopefully, there will be some more good tennis played here."

Stephens now returns as a 26-year-old—she celebrated her birthday on Wednesday—and has a bye, so there's plenty of time for her to get used to the venue. She just arrived and has yet to hit on the stadium or any of the match courts.

Despite the excitement that comes with change and newness, the tennis court—even if it's painted bright aqua blue and sitting in the middle of a football stadium—is still a tennis court, and the points she has to defend haven't changed.

"I'm the only one that's going to lose a 1,000 points," Stephens said. "It's nice. It's fun. But it's all really the same."

What's also the same is her coaching situation since her puzzling, 6-3, 6-0 opening-round loss in Indian Wells. The No. 4 seed is being helped by U.S. Fed Cup coach Kathy Rinaldi, but still doesn't have a permanent coach or an idea of what she truly wants, other than a good connection and someone she can get along with.

Stephens opens against the winner of Ons Jabeur and Alison Van Uytvanck.

"Tennis is a very long rollercoaster that you can't get off of," Stephens said. "[I'm] just taking it day by day; excited to be playing, happy. Just trying to make the most of it and play as best as I can."