DUBAI — Sloane Stephens lost in the first round of the Dubai Championship Monday, the latest setback for the rising American star who reached the Australian Open semifinals. Stephens, who has reached a career high 16 in the world rankings since knocking out Serena Williams in Melbourne, lost to Sorana Cirstea of Romania 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. "It was a rough day, and I think she obviously played some good tennis," Stephens said. "Every match isn't going to go the way you want it, and obviously I got a little frustrated. Things happen, but, I mean, no need to dwell on it." Eleneth-ranked Marion Bartoli also advanced, coming from a set down to beat Klara Zakopalova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. In other matches, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia downed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) and Hsieh Su-Wei of Taipei defeated Varvara Lepchenko of the US 6-1, 6-3. Last week, the 19-year-old Stephens lost to Zakopalova in the third round of the Qatar Open after wasting two match points. She smashed her racket afterward. Monday's match was much the same. Stephens led 5-4 when the 30th-ranked Cirstea hit two double-faults, but the Romanian broke back. Stephens broke a second time and won the set. More poor serving from Cirstea allowed Stephens to get the early break in the second, but then the Romanian settled down, breaking an increasingly frustrated Stephens twice to win the set. At one point, Stephens let out a scream after a missed shot and then was warned by the chair umpire for racket abuse when she slammed her racket down after hitting a forehand wide. Cirstea, who lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the Qatar Open, said she was giving away too many free points off her serve. She had 10 double-faults in the first two sets but only two in the decider. She also won all three of her break points and saved seven of 11. Scheepers beaten In Memphis, Coco Vandeweghe upset South African sixth seed Chanelle Scheepers while British fourth seed Heather Watson battled to advance in opening matches Sunday at the WTA-ATP US Indoor Championships. American Vandeweghe defeated Scheepers 6-2, 6-1 while Watson outlasted Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the second round at the $1.58 million hardcourt event. Slovakian seventh seed Magdalena Rybarikova advanced with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over France's Stephanie Foretz Gacon. Rybarikova will next face American Lauren Davis, who rallied past Kazak Ksenia Pervak 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Hungary's Melinda Czink ousted Russia's Olga Puchkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to book a second-round date with either US qualifier Madison Keys or German third seed Sabine Lisicki. — Agencies
