Kenin wins, Stephens loses in ASB Classic’s 1st round

By The Associated Press

FILE - Venus Williams, of the United States, reacts during her first-round doubles match with Serena Williams, against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova, of the Czech Republic, at the U.S. Open tennis championships on Sept. 1, 2022, in New York. Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry to play at the Australian Open in January 2023, 25 years after she played the Grand Slam tournament for the first time. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Frank Franklin II]

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova has beaten second-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-3, 7-5 (5) at the ASB Tennis Classic as organizers of the WTA Tour event contend with a backlog of singles matches caused by persistent rain. Matches had to be played indoors and without spectators to ensure the first round of singles was completed. On a day which was to be notable for the number of American players in action, Stephens struggled to adjust to the indoor setting and fell to the 130th-ranked Masarova in just under two hours.