Reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens began the summer hardcourt campaign ahead of defending her Flushing Meadows crown by beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-4 Tuesday at the WTA and ATP Washington Open.
Third-ranked Stephens, who captured her first Grand Slam title last year in New York, booked a second-round match against Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
"I'm super excited about the hardcourt season again," 25-year-old Stephens said.
"I'm still young and still have so much more to go and look forward to."
"I knew I was in for a real test from the very beginning," Stephens said. "I knew I had to stay patient and be within myself."
"Whoever deals with that the best, whoever doesn't mind playing at two in the morning, is liable to win the event."
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