Clara Burel stages impressive comeback to defeat Sloane Stephens at US Open

Clara Burel of France overcame a challenging start to defeat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the first round of the US Open on Monday. The match, held during the opening night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw Burel recovering after a shaky first set to secure her place in the second round against Victoria Azarenka.Initially, Burel appeared unsettled under the New York spotlight, making several early mistakes. However, she managed to regain her composure and outmaneuver her more seasoned opponent. "I was a little bit nervous at the beginning, and Sloane was playing really well," Reuters quoted Burel. "I just kept fighting and I found a way."Stephens started aggressively, capitalizing on her powerful forehand and minimizing errors. She swiftly wrapped up the opening set in just 21 minutes, leaving Burel seemingly in disbelief. By then, an easy victory for Stephens seemed imminent as she took a 3-0 lead in the second set.However, when Stephens' performance started to dip, Burel seized the opportunity. Targeting Stephens' weaker backhand, Burel staged a comeback, ultimately breaking her opponent’s serve to love to clinch the second set. Stephens then left the court briefly before the decisive third set commenced.The third set was a tense affair with both players exchanging breaks three times. Burel eventually broke from the baseline to close out the match, securing her advance to the next round.