Stephens to face Vesnina

Omnisports 07:41 - 09 April 2016

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Sloane Stephens is one win away from claiming a third title of the year after Angelique Kerber retired in the Volvo Car Open.

Sloane Stephens reached the final of the Volvo Car Open after top seed and defending champion Angelique Kerber retired from their semi-final due to illness.

Top seed Kerber will lose her status as world number two to Agnieszka Radwanska as a result of missing out on a place in the final, while Stephens is just one win away from her third title of the year.

Stephens won the opening four games of the match to stun Kerber and the world number 23 wasted no time in wrapping up the opening set as the German looked out of sorts.

The American produced some eye-catching groundstrokes and applied pressure on the favourite's serve, but it was apparent that Kerber was struggling as she racked up 16 unforced errors and was unable to continue.

Stephens will face qualifier Elena Vesnina in Sunday's final of the WTA Premier event.

The Russian outsider won 65 per cent of points on her first serve and broke six times to set up a showdown with Stephens at the expense of the fifth seed.