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Sloane Stephens’ US Open run came to a swift and sudden close on Monday.
The American tennis star suffered a shocking three-set defeat to Frenchwoman Clara Burel, an unranked talent who has never advanced beyond a third round in a major tournament.
COMEBACK CLARA 😲 pic.twitter.com/st5svjH2nj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2024
Stephens’ loss was made all the more stunning by the fact that she opened the match by winning six straight games. Stephens showed off a venomous forehand and impressive court presence, flying from end to end with reckless abandon. A positive result appeared on the cards for the 31-year-old, whose sole major tournament win came in the 2017 iteration of the competition.
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Sloane Stephens off to a fast start!
She takes the first set over Clara Burel 6-0. pic.twitter.com/u7lazPyAVv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2024
Unfortunately for Stephens and all her supporters, however, Burel found her rhythm as the match wore on. The 23-year-old looked in anguish for much of the first 33 minutes of the match, dropping each of her first nine games. Then, she found life, overcoming a 3-0, 1-4, and 2-5 deficit in Set No. 2 to level things up at one set apiece.
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Down a set and 3-0, Clara Burel has stormed back to force a third. pic.twitter.com/DWBrGGFgYg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2024
Set No. 3 was a pearler of a watch, with both Burel and Stephens having moments of brilliance…and madness. Ultimately, though, it was Burrel who made fewer mistakes. As Stephen’s returns — once fiery and precise — danced outside the baseline, it was clear she was on the precipice of an epic collapse.
Clara Burel won this match. pic.twitter.com/mInfvjeJs2
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2024
Stephens’ 7-5 defeat in the final set resigned her to one of her worst finishes in her US Open career. She’ll have to wait until next year’s Australian Open to get a chance at another piece of major championship hardware. Burel, meanwhile, will face Belarusian standout Victoria Azarenka on Wednesday.