Sloane shows Broady exit in Auckland

Sloane Stephens knocked out the player who was embroiled in a racket-throwing controversy at the ASB Classic in Auckland.

The American ended Naomi Broady's impressive run in New Zealand on yesterday with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win to advance to the semifinals.

British No.3 Broady had followed up a win over former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic with a battling second-round victory over Jelena Ostapenko to book a clash with fifth seed Stephens.

But the 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Ostapenko was marred by controversy as Broady unsuccessfully called for the Latvian to be disqualified for throwing away her racket -- which struck a ball boy -- in the second set tie-break.

The Briton's clash with Stephens was far less dramatic. In a tight first set Broady twice had chances to win it, having recovered from 0-40 to lead 6-5 before Stephens held serve to take the set into a tie-break.

Stephens saved set point in the breaker before eventually sealing it 8-6 to take the opening set. The 22-year-old saw her serve broken early in the second set but recovered to win four successive games for a 5-2 lead. ESPN