Sloane Stephens barely avoids upset by Mandy Minella

NEW YORK — Sloane Stephens, an Australian Open semifinalist and a rising American talent, survived a match full of errors in which she wasted two match points on her own serve but beat Mandy Minella, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), on Monday in a first-round U.S. Open match.

On the final point, with Minella serving, Stephens hit a massive forehand and Minella’s lunging volley ended up in the net. Minella, who is from Luxembourg and is ranked 110th in the world, burst into tears when her final shot failed.

Meanwhile, Stephens was throwing her headband and tennis balls into the supportive crowd at the Louis Armstrong Stadium court.

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