Sloane Stephens during the first round women's singles match of the 2013 US Open
Sloane Stephens and Jamie Hampton, aged 20 and 23 respectively, will face off on a star-studded Friday in the third round of the U.S. Open.
Whoever wins the game at 11am EST will most likely take on fellow countrywoman and world no. 1 Serena Williams in the fourth round Sunday. Stephens, ranked 15th, and Hampton, ranked 23, look set for a hard fight. Stephens told Sports Illustrated ahead of Friday’s match: “It’s always tough playing another American. Jamie is a good friend.”
For the second all-American match to happen, defending champion Williams must first beat Yaroslava Shvedvova, ranked 78, in a match also taking place Friday.
In the men’s tournament defending champion Andy Murray will enter the second round against Leonardo Mayer, ranked 81. Both Murray and Williams are expected to breeze through to their respective next rounds.
Meanwhile luck has aligned Li Na, world no. 5, with Laura Robson again — giving Li a chance to avenge herself after the ranked 30th British player nudged her out of the U.S. Open’s third round by surprise last year.