Projecting Sloane Stephens' US Open 2013 Run After 1st-Round Scare

American Sloane Stephens' 2013 U.S. Open run was nearly over before it even began, and the competition is only going to get stiffer as the tournament wears on.

Stephens lost her first set to Mandy Minella of France in the first round on Monday before rallying in the final two sets to win the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), as noted by the WTA:

She was decidedly upbeat after squeaking past Minella, who is ranked No. 110 on the WTA Tour:

However, it's going to take more than an upbeat attitude and a smile to continue winning at the U.S. Open. Stephens was extremely sloppy in her first-round match, committing six double faults and an eye-popping 55 unforced errors.

Her next opponent, Urszula Radwanska, will provide a difficult challenge.

Though Radwanska has never gotten out of the second round in the U.S. Open, she defeated Stephens in their only previous matchup, beating her in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, at Indian Wells earlier this year.

Radwanska had no trouble breaking Stephens' serve in the match, earning six break points. 

Given Stephens' star power, her strong showings in the Australian Open and Wimbledon and her recent win against Maria Sharapova in Cincinnati, she'll likely be the heavy favorite to win her second-round match against Radwanska.

However, nobody should be surprised if the American suffers another early exit.

Should Stephens rediscover the same sharp game that served her well in those aforementioned tournaments and defeat Radwanska, she'll face either Jamie Hampton or Kristina Mladenovic in Round 3. 

Both opponents are ones Stephens should be able to defeat, but the buck stops in Round 4, when she'll likely face Serena Williams, who absolutely destroyed Francesca Schiavone in Round 1, 6-0, 6-1.

All things considered, if Stephens makes it to Round 4 to face Williams, then she should consider it a victory. Chances are, however, that she'll lose to Radwanska in Round 2, putting an early end to her 2013 U.S. Open.

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