By Erik Gudris | Monday, June 2, 2014

 

As the highest seed left in the women's draw, Simona Halep continued her quest for a possible French Open title by defeating Sloane Stephens.

Photo Credit: Peter Staples

For one, their French Open dream for this year is over. For another, hers may just be beginning.

No. 4 seed Simona Halep of Romania found herself the highest ranked women left in Paris as she entered the fourth round.

With the pressure on, Halep faced off against another player who is used to finding herself in the second week of a major. American Sloane Stephens, making her sixth straight round of 16 appearance at a Grand Slam, awaited Halep on Monday. At stake - a spot in the French Open quarterfinals.

Both women played a perfectly matched opening set with neither taking control early. Holding serve proved key however with Stephens struggling to keep a tight reign during her service games. At 4-all, Halep broke Stephens for a third time in the set.

From there, Halep closed out the set 6-4.

Halep would convert a perfect six out of six break point opportunities in the match. Stephens, who struck 35 unforced errors to 25 from her opponent, couldn't find a way to dent Halep's accurate baseline tactics.

Halep went on to seal the convincing 6-4, 6-3 win to reach her first ever French Open quarterfinal.

"I think I managed very well the match. I opened the angles. I wanted her to run a lot on court. I think I played aggressive. I dominated the match, I think. I didn't serve very well, but I tried to return better, and I did. So it was a very tough match. She's a great player. We both, I think we played good tennis today," Halep said about the win.

Halep will next face 2009 French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

Kuznetsova met Lucie Safarova in their fourth round meeting. Despite having their head to head tied at 3-all, this was the first ever match on clay.

After trading early breaks, Kuznetsova took hold of the first set and soon claimed it 6-3. Despite almost falling behind 0-4 in the second set, Safarova rallied back for 4-all.

Kuznetsova's clay court experience paid off down the stretch as she would break Safarova in the final game thus sealing a 6-3, 6-4 win.