WTA roundup: Stephens rallies back to advance to Rouen last 16

Sloane Stephens, the sixth seed, defeated Peyton Stearns 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in an all-American first-round match at the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole in Rouen, France, on Monday.

Stearns' serve dominated the first set, winning 18 of 24 service points and breaking Stephens twice. Stephens used a 3-0 second-set lead to tie the match before holding off Stearns late in the third set. Stephens converted six of eleven break-point opportunities in total.

Stephens' next opponent will be Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Russia's Polina Kudermetova in three sets on Monday (7-5, 1-6, 7-5). No. 5 seed Maria Andreeva of Russia and Magda Linette of Poland won their opening matches in straight sets.

Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

Veronika Kudermetova of Russia rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third set to beat Czech opponent Barbora Krejcikova 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round in Stuttgart, Germany.

Kudermetova saved nine of thirteen break points, hit four aces, and capitalised on her opponent's five double faults, three of which came in the third set. After falling behind Krejcikova 5-3 in the first set, Kudermetova used a five-game rally to win the three-hour, six-minute match.

Sachia Vickery defeated Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6 (2), 7-5, and will now face No. 3 seed Coco Gauff in the next round. Spaniard Paula Badosa defeated Russia's Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4, and will face Belarus' No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the next round.

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