Sloane Stephens rallied from a set down to beat Olivia Gadecki and keep her Australian Open hopes alive.
The American overturned early frustrations to win in three tight sets, denying the Australian a home-crowd upset while reminding everyone that a former Grand Slam champion can still raise her level when it matters.
Stephens Survives A Three-Set Test
The match swung like a pendulum for two hours and 12 minutes before Stephens closed it out, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to knock the Australian out of qualifying and propel herself deeper into Melbourne.
Gadecki burst from the blocks, breaking on the first attempt and running Stephens around to claim the opening set 6-3, but the momentum did not last as the American gradually found answers and steadied her game under pressure.
“just breathe, try get on your front foot more”
Kamau Murray
Stephens admitted to visible frustration early on, regularly consulting coach Kamau Murray at the side of the court, but that mid-match adjustment helped her turn the contest, mixing depth and slice to disrupt Gadecki’s rhythm.
The second set swung Stephens’ way when she managed a crucial break halfway through, and Gadecki could not capitalise on opportunities, failing to convert five break points that might have kept the Australian momentum alive and the match pinned.
Past Glory, Present Fight
Stephens is no stranger to big stages, having captured the 2017 US Open and then reaching another major final at Roland Garros the following year before falling to Simona Halep, a pedigree that still carries weight despite recent ranking dips.
According to reporting from the qualifying rounds, Stephens entered Melbourne ranked 1,097th on the WTA Tour, a reminder that form and ranking do not always tell the whole story when a proven Grand Slam winner rediscovers her rhythm.
The victory over Gadecki was also Stephens’ second in a row after a difficult stretch, cutting through what had been a lengthy slump described as a 13-game losing run that stretched back to Wimbledon in 2024.
What The Draw Holds And Local Reaction
After coming through qualifying, Stephens completed her campaign by defeating Lucia Bronzetti in the final qualifying round and will take that momentum into the main draw as a player who has just proved she can reverse a match when under pressure.
The Australian Open first-round draw was not kind, with Stephens set to face Karolina Pliskova, a former world number one and two-time major finalist whose power and experience make her a stern test even early in a Slam.
Pliskova’s credentials are formidable on paper, including an impressive 17 WTA titles and the knowledge that, despite current rankings, a player who has once topped the world list remains dangerous in the opening rounds of a Grand Slam.
For Gadecki, the loss was a showcase of both promise and missed chances; she started strongly, troubled Stephens with depth and movement, and earlier in 2024 was also the player left standing when Stephens beat her in straight sets at the Australian Open.
The match added another chapter to their rivalry: it was the fourth time the pair had met and the first time their match went the distance, which will sting for the local hopeful but will also serve as valuable experience under pressure.
As qualifiers finish and the main draw looms, Stephens’ run is a reminder that the early rounds can produce storylines worth watching, from ranking reversals to veteran comebacks that refuse to read the room the way the seedings suggest.
The drama of qualifying often arrives before the cameras fully settle on Rod Laver Arena, and Tuesday’s result between Stephens and Gadecki delivered both competitive intensity and a neat narrative about resilience and small tactical shifts making a big difference.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
