Louisa Chirico took on fellow American Sloane Stephens for a spot in the Citi Open semifinal. The teenager was looking for yet another top-notch win on her resume after defeating Heather Watson comprehensively in her opening match for her first tour-level win. She followed that up with three hour slugfest in the blistering heat over fifth-seeded Alize Cornet.
Stephens knocked off Magda Linette with ease in her opener before advancing to the quarterfinals via walkover as Russian and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out. It was the veteran amongst the two Americans to take this one though taking it 6-4, 6-4.
Stephens’ break in the opening game good enough to give her the set
Chirico has done a phenomenal job holding her nerves in the crucial moments. However, the opening service game she was broken at 15. The next two games saw each woman get into the opposition’s service game, but they each held as Stephens led 2-1 with a break. After that, it would be in the ninth game on Chirico’s serve that trouble was brewing once again.
The New Jersey native fell behind 15-40 before serving it out to remain in the set. She’d hold at 15 to take the first set 6-4.
Stephens battles from squandering a break lead multiple times to advance
The teenager had plenty of work to do after dropping the first set. She nearly fell behind again after getting pushed to deuce in the initial game of the second set. However, she held on for the 1-0 lead. The third game saw Chirico give the break to Stephens, but despite that, the New York born teen would get it right back for two-all.
The fifth game was a battle, some would even say gladiator like with punishing blows sometimes delivered. 17 points. A 17 point game which only saw one break point opportunity and six deuces before the American teen sensation gutted it out. Chirico took that momentum from that thrilling game and nearly broke in the following game, but all of a sudden, found herself down the 3-4 with Stephens to serve in the eighth game.
If there’s one thing you cannot discount from Chirico, it’s her resolve. Down a set and a break, she broke right back to level the score once again at 4-all in the second. After all that hard work though, it all came back to haunt the teen as she looked a bit spent in her final service game as Stephens broke then held at 15 to take the match.
There are many positives the young American can take from this. Her first ever WTA quarterfinal, two tour-level victories, playing her strong opposition tough, and experience. All these memories of the Citi Open will provide a great learning experience for Louisa Chirico.
The stats were in Stephens’ favor throughout the match. She was efficient on serve with six aces and a double fault compared to Chirico’s one ace and five double faults. The veteran American held a distinct advantage on percentage points on serve. 66 percent of service points won winning 82 percent of first serve points. Compare that to Chirico who had 51 percent of service points won and 58 percent of first serve points won.
The former Australian Open semifinalist was excellent on return of serve too, but even though Chirico was behind in stats, she showed that she can be competitive even when she’s playing “poorly” according to the stats. Sloane Stephens now faces second-seeded Sam Stosur for a spot in the final. The Australian won due to Monica Niculescu’s retirement during their match.