5 best sporting performances from the week 3 April - 10 April
As part of our weekly series chronicling the top 5 sporting performances of the week, here are our best picks, past and present:
Sloane Stephens
The now 23-year-old saw success early in her tennis career, and in 2013 had arguably her best ever tennis result to date – defeating a powerful Serena Williams in the semi-finals of that year’s Australian Open.
That same year, she beat Maria Sharapova, with each of those victories coming in hard-fought three set matches. Losing form in 2014 after topping out at No. 11 in the rankings, the American came back to some form in 2015, winning the first ever WTA title of her career at that year’s Citi Open, defeating experienced Australian ace Samantha Stosur in the finals.
After she ended 2015 in 30th, 2016 has seen a rejuvenated Stephens return to the court and begin the year with a title win at the ASB Classic, and then a February title win at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
Last week, Stephens only four months into the new year, took her third title of the season with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Elena Vesnina in Charleston. Quickly climbing up the rankings, and currently at 21st, the young American could be a top 10 contender in the very near future.