SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens and Karolina Pliskova, a one-time U.S. Open runner-up, won their opening matches at the San Diego Open WTA 500 on Tuesday.
Stephens, a wild-card entrant from the United States who won the 2017 U.S. Open, got her second win in 2022 over lucky loser Jil Teichmann, beating the Swiss lefthander 6-1, 7-6 (2). Pliskova, a former No. 1 from the Czech Republic who was the 2016 U.S. Open runner-up, beat American Caroilne Dolehide 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
"It's always a tough match with her. She's a great player," said the 52nd-ranked Stephens, who saved a set point in the second set. "I knew she was going to come out and give me a good fight. I just tried to stay calm and play my game. In the end, it went my way."
Leylah Fernandez, the U.S. Open 2021 runner-up, dropped her second match this year to No. 8 seed Daria Kasatkina, 6-2, 6-2, in just 59 minutes.
"Dasha is an amazing player. She's improved so much over the years," Fernandez observed. "I watched her play on TV when I was still a junior. Seeing her now in the top 10 and doing so well this year is truly inspiring. I think today she showed how well she can play. She didn't make too many mistakes. I, unfortunately, did."