With the US Open 2021 getting off to a rocking start, fans were treated to a mouth-watering first round encounter. In an all-American clash, Sloane Stephens took on good friend Madison Keys in a high-risk, high-reward match. It was a hard-fought battle between two intense competitors, with Stephens coming out on top.

Set-1: Sloane Stephens earns early break to claim the set

Opening play on Arthur Ashe stadium, the duo engaged in some enthralling rallies early on. It was Sloane Stephens who played with more conviction, going up a break in game-3. Both players were forehand dominant, blasting some powerful shots. Though Keys served some bullets down the T, the former Grand Slam champion countered it with some nonchalant returns of serve.

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After Sloane Stephens claimed the early break, the rest of the set panned out on serve. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Keys faultered with some undue unforced errors. She missed an easy overhead lob and some crucial backhands late in the set. Squandering a game point opportunity, Keys conceded the first set 6-3 in 38 minutes.

Keys roars back, before Stephens seals the deal

In the beginning of the second set, Keys began to find her range. She was making more deep ground strokes and dictating the points early on. In this repeat of the 2017 US Open final, Madison Keys fought back. Adding more spin along with her pace, she went up a double break to lead 4-0. The 26-year-old then stayed solid on her serve to close out the set 6-1 and send the match to a one-set shootout.

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In the deciding set, Stephens and Keys went all out to keep themselves in the game. Both of them relied on a 1-2 punch and held serve for over the first half of the set. As Keys led 4-3, the intensity of the match shifted. It was always going to be tougher for Stephens, being the inferior server by quite some distance. However, her tactic of keeping the ball in play and forcing the mistake from her opponent paid some dividends.

After failing to convert multiple break points, Sloane Stephens finally broke, but got broken back immediately. In the tiebreaker, Stephens held her nerve for a 6-3 1-6 7-6 victory.

The first round encounter was a thrilling commencement of the competition, and a sign of things to come. The pair produced some quality tennis in a bid to reach Round-2. How far do you think Sloane Stephens will go at Flushing Meadows this year? Throw in your predictions.