Sloane Stephens win Volvo Car Open

Sloane Stephens defeated Elena Vesnina in straight sets at the Volvo Car Open on Sunday to lift the fourth title of her career.

The world number 25, seeded seventh for the WTA Premier event in Charleston, South Carolina, won 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in one hour and 44 minutes after a match of two sharply contrasting sets.

It is the third title of a breakout year for the 23-year-old, who won in Auckland in January and Acapulco a month later.

Qualifier Vesnina bravely battled back from 5-2 down to lead 6-5 in the opening set, but was then broken for the third time as Stephens took it to a tie-break.

And the Russian then suffered three mini breaks to lose the set and undo all her good work.

She gave up her serve again in the first game of the second as Stephens made a fast start.

The American did not look back from there, breaking Vesnina once more before serving it out, although she needed four match points to get the job done on home soil.