Hometown hopeful Shelby Rogers loses first round Volvo Car Open battle to Arruabarrena
In an emotional first match for Charleston's own Shelby Rogers, crowd support and a strong second and third sets were not enough to overcome Spain's Lara Arruabarrena.
Rogers fell 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 in the final match of Monday night.
Venus Williams off to powerful start at Volvo Car Open
Venus Williams had not played much winning tennis since capturing her 49th WTA title in February.
She was more than ready to show off her game at the Volvo Car Open on Wednesday.
The third-seeded Williams used her powerhouse serves and crisp groundstrokes for a 6-4, 6-2 victory over fellow American Alison Riske. Williams advanced on a day when several other top seeds were upset at the year's first clay-court event.
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, ranked No. 2 in the world, retired because of a viral illness during her semifinal match Saturday at the Volvo Car Open, sending American Sloane Stephens to the final.
Stephens will face Elena Vesnina, the Russian qualifier who upset fifth-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
American Sloane Stephens won her third WTA title of the year with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Elena Vesnina at the Volvo Car Open on Sunday
Sloane Stephens invited a friend to come watch her play at the Volvo Car Open.
"And I was like, 'Well, I've never won a match there, so the earlier in the week you could come, the better,'" Stephens said, laughing.
Turns out, the rising 23-year-old American had a nice long stay, winning her third WTA title of the season with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Elena Vesnina in the finals Sunday.