Stephens loses in 1st round in Dubai

Stephens, who has reached a career high 16 in the world rankings since knocking out Serena Williams in Melbourne, lost to Sorana Cirstea of Romania 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

“It was a rough day, and I think she obviously played some good tennis,” Stephens said. “Every match isn't going to go the way you want it, and obviously I got a little frustrated. Things happen, but, I mean, no need to dwell on it.”

Eleventh-ranked Marion Bartoli also advanced, coming from a set down to beat Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. She was joined by former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who overcame a sore right shoulder to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Laura Robson, the British up-and-comer, joined Stephens in being eliminated after losing to 97th-ranked wild-card entry Yulia Putinseva of Kazakhstan 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (6).

Last week, the 19-year-old Stephens lost to Zakopalova in the third round of the Qatar Open after wasting two match points. She smashed her racket afterward.

Monday's match was much the same. Stephens led 5-4 when the 30th-ranked Cirstea hit two double-faults, but the Romanian broke back. Stephens broke a second time and won the set.

More poor serving from Cirstea allowed Stephens to get the early break in the second, but then the Romanian settled down, breaking an increasingly frustrated Stephens twice to win the set. At one point, Stephens let out a scream after a missed shot and then was warned by the chair umpire for racket abuse when she slammed her racket down after hitting a forehand wide to fall behind 5-3.

Cirstea broke Stephens three times in the third to go up 5-2 and finished it off when the American hit a weak return and then a backhand volley long.

“I started the second quite positive and I knew I had to be just a little more careful at the key points if I would turn it around,” Cirstea said.

After beating an injured Williams at the Australian Open, Stephens was being billed as the future of American tennis — even though she hasn't yet won a professional tournament.

“The first week at home was really tough. Everyone was like, `Oh, my God, I want to see you,”' Stephens said last week in Doha. “Of course I had people tweeting me and stuff. And I wanted to make time for my friends and see like the people who I was supposed to see.”

Some of her recent woes can be blamed on health problems.

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