American youngster Sloane Stephens has ensured safe passage to round two of the Rogers Cup tonight, with a straight-sets victory over Kristina Mladenovic.
Stephens started the match brightly, breaking twice in quick succession to claim the opening set in 33 minutes.
Mladenovic regrouped to put up a much sterner fight in the second set, holding serve with a series of gutsy shots under pressure at the baseline.
At 5-6 in the second set Mladenovic stayed calm to respond, saving match point to forcing a tie-breaker in Montreal.
Despite a fierce cry of "come on" following from the French starlet Stephens managed to force a pair of errors in the breaker, claiming a hard-fought second set and the match 6-2 7-6(5).
The 20-year-old now progresses to the second round, where Mona Barthel awaits after her victory over Zheng Jie earlier today.
Liam Power
