KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Kalahating oras ang ginugol ni Sloane Stephens para ipagdiwang ang tagumpay sa harap nang nagbubunying kababayan.
Tinanghal na kampeon ang Miami native sa paboritong home tournament -- The Miami Open – nang pabagsakin si Jelena Ostapenko, 7-6 (5), 6-1, sa women’s singles finals nitong Sabado (Linggo sa Manila).
Ipinanganak at lumaki si Stephens sa South Florida, at sinimulan ang junior career sa Key Biscayne na malapit lamang sa kanilang tahanan sa Fort Lauderdale. Higit na pinanabikan ng reigning U.S. Open champion na manalao sa Miami Open dahil sa planong ilipat ang torneo sa karatig na NFL Dolphins Stadium simula sa susunod na season.
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“This place is pretty special to me,” pahayag ni Stephens. “I’m definitely happy I could be the last person to win here. I’ve had some amazing experiences here, and I’ll definitely miss it.”
Sa kabila nito, ikinalungkot ng mga tagahanga ni Stephens ang naging pahayag ni tournament director James Blake sa paglipat ng torneo.
“I was kind of confused by that,” aniya. “I’m excited for the move. I think it will be great for the tournament — a new facility. I’m sure it will be beautiful.”
Nakopo naman nina Mike at Bob Bryan ang ika-15 doubles title nang gapiin sina Andrey Rublev at Karen Khachanov, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 10-4.
Haharapin naman ni John Isner si Alexander Zverev sa men’s final sa Linggo (Lunes sa Manila). Kung magwawagi si Isner, makukumpleto ng US ang sweep sa Key Biscayne tulad noong 2004 nang magwagi sina Andy Roddick at Serena Williams.
Nakopo ng No. 13-seeded na si Stephens ang panalo sa matibay na depensa, gayundin sa nagawang 48 unforced errors ni Ostapenko.
“She was moving really well,” sambit ni Ostapenko. “Sometimes I was going for an aggressive winner when I didn’t have to. I was sometimes missing shots I was normally making this week.”
