Miami Open presented by Itau

[CR34] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. [CR45] Sloane Stephens (USA)

It was a battle to the end, neither player wanted to concede the match easily.  The advantage went to Stephens who had more weight to her shots. Although Bencic came up short this round, it was not due to a lack of confidence or desire; she simply was out played by the more experienced Stephens.  It appears that Stephens has come out of her period of poor play and is regaining her belief and desire.  This was not an easy match, Stephens dug deep and fought for the 6-4, 7-6(5) victory.  Will Stephens maintain this positive attitude for the rest of the tournament?

When you watch Bencic play, you realize what is sometimes missing from some of the older players, passion.  She expresses her enjoyment and her love of the game clearly in every shot she makes.  That youthful exuberance makes watching tennis fun.  Ferrer also embodies this passion for the sport, it’s something that he has maintained despite the fact that he has been on tour for a long time.  When you watch him play, you feel his love for the sport as well as his desire to win. It’s expressed in his willingness to compete for every point.  This mental advantage cannot be quantified and it is one of the reasons why David Ferrer has been so successful.