Stephens Battles Back into Australian Open Main Draw
After a year sidelined by injury, Sloane Stephens claws through qualifying in Melbourne, securing her spot in the main draw with a gritty win over Lucia Bronzetti.
In the sticky heat of Melbourne Park, Sloane Stephens stepped onto the qualifying courts, her left foot finally cooperating after months of rehab. This marks her return to a Grand Slam, the first since a quick first-round exit to Aryna Sabalenka here last year. At 32, the 2017 U.S. Open champion has clawed her way back from No. 1,097 in the rankings, three straight wins now propelling her into the Australian Open main draw.
Rebuilding amid ranking freefall
Stephens’ plunge to No. 1,097 stemmed from that lingering foot injury, forcing her off the tour and watching points vanish week by week. On these medium-paced hard courts, she rediscovered her rhythm, her flat groundstrokes gaining bite as the bounce suited her aggressive baseline game. The mental edge sharpened too—each rally a step away from doubt, her serve dipping low to set up crosscourt backhands that opened the court wide.
Crowds at Melbourne Park picked up on the shift early, their murmurs turning to cheers as she navigated the opening rounds with crisp footwork. Drawing from her days at world No. 3, she mixed heavy topspin forehands to push opponents back, turning potential vulnerabilities into controlled exchanges. This wasn’t a full reinvention, just enough recalibration to remind everyone of her peak potential.
Clutch edges against Bronzetti
Facing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in the third round, Stephens stormed to a 6-1 first set, her inside-out forehands landing with precision to pin the Italian deep. Bronzetti fought back in the second, but Stephens varied her pace with backhand slice to disrupt the tempo, forcing errors in longer points. She sealed the 7-5 victory Thursday with a down-the-line winner that hugged the sideline, the moment crackling under the afternoon sun.
The win highlighted her improved movement—no more hesitations on the slide, allowing her to redirect crosscourt shots inside-in for surprise winners. Bronzetti’s flat hitting tested her defense, yet Stephens leaned into 1–2 patterns, serving wide and following with approach shots to finish points at net. At match end, her foot held steady, a quiet triumph over the injury that had defined her year.
Main draw demands fresh resolve
Ahead stretches the Australian Open’s main draw, where the Plexicushion surface rewards quick adjustments to rivals’ spins and speeds. Stephens’ hybrid game—flat power laced with topspin—could unsettle power players, especially if she pushes forward more often to break baseline rhythms. The qualifying grind has rebuilt her confidence, but sustaining it through best-of-three sets will test that resolve against top seeds.
Melbourne’s fans, ever drawn to comeback stories, sense the narrative building around her. With the main draw starting soon, she carries not just tactical tweaks but a fiercer mindset, ready to turn this return into something deeper. The hard courts here, baked and bouncy, await her next chapter, where perseverance might just spark an unexpected run.