Stephens rolls into Miami Open second round after beating Kerber

Sloane Stephens marked her 31st birthday with a stylish victory over Germany's Angelique Kerber, defeating her 6-2, 6-3 in a dominant performance during the Miami Open on Wednesday.

This one-sided battle showcased the skills of two former Grand Slam champions, propelling Stephens into the second round of the tournament.

Stephens, the 2018 Miami Open champion and a native of Florida, capitalized on four out of her eight opportunities to break Kerber's serve. In the 70-minute match, she only lost her serve once.

During her on-court interview, Stephens expressed that she stuck to her gameplan without any deviations. She gave her best effort and was pleased to secure the victory.

Looking ahead, the 2017 US Open champion, who was eliminated in the third round at Indian Wells last week, will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the next round.

In the first set, Stephens, ranked 41st in the world, faced little challenge and sealed the set with her second break, winning the game without conceding a point.

Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner who returned to the tour in January after taking an 18-month maternity break, aimed to build on her fourth-round performance at Indian Wells.

Although she appeared more comfortable in the early stages of the second set, a series of mistakes ultimately led to her downfall.

Stephens took advantage of the situation, securing a break to establish a 5-2 lead. She then comfortably served out the match, concluding it with a forehand shot to the open court.

With this victory, Stephens now holds a 6-2 record in head-to-head meetings against Kerber.