The stand-out first round match from the 2015 Family Circle Cup draw is the all-American clash featuring Sloane Stephens and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.  For the second tournament in a row, Mattek-Sands will open against an American player after she played Taylor Townsend in the first round of Indian Wells.  In a highly entertaining match, Townsend edged Mattek-Sands in three sets, 6-4 5-7 7-5.  Mattek-Sands was out on the sidelines for much of 2014 due to a left hip injury and is still working her way back up the rankings.  Her best result of the year so far came at the Australian Open where she reached the third round.

During March, Stephens played some superb tennis to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells and the quarter-finals in Miami.  Stephens enjoyed top 40 wins over Angelique Kerber (7-6 6-2, IW R2), Svetlana Kuznetsova (7-6 1-6 6-4, IW R3), Madison Keys (6-4 6-2, Miami R2) and Belinda Bencic (6-4 7-6, R4).  It was the nature of her performances that was most impressive as Stephens looked focussed and motivated on court.  There is no doubt that her partnership with Nick Saviano has had a positive impact on her game already.  Sloane’s improvements can be further demonstrated by a third round win against Johanna Larsson in Miami, a player she had lost to twice in the last six months.

Sloane leads the head-to-head against Bethanie, 2-1 with all three previous matches taking place on clay.  Bethanie’s only win came in Charleston in 2013 when she won, 6-2 6-0 (EEK).  It may be too early to say that Sloane is bouncing back, particularly as she did well at Indian Wells and Miami last year, but it’s certainly enough to sway my opinion in this match-up.  Mattek-Sands is capable of a win but if Sloane can bring the form she showed in Miami, I believe she will come through this early test.

Prediction: Stephens d. Mattek-Sands in 2 tight sets

WTA Charleston 1st Round Predictions

Lauren Davis d. Grace Min in 3 sets

Mona Barthel d. Timea Babos in 3 sets

Varvara Lepchenko d. Andreea Mitu in 2 sets

Alexandra Dulgheru d. Ajla Tomljanovic in 2 sets

Elena Vesnina d. Jana Cepelova in 2 sets

Silvia Soler-Espinosa d. Shelby Rogers in 3 sets

Irina Falconi d. Tatjana Maria in 3 sets

Belinda Bencic d. Casey Dellacqua in 2 tight sets

Heather Watson d. Donna Vekic in 2 sets

Madison Brengle d. Edina Gallovits-Hall in 2 sets

Chanelle Scheepers d. Marina Erakovic in 3 sets

Evgeniya Rodina d. Yulia Putintseva in 3 sets

Lara Arruabarrena d. Cagla Buyukakcay in 3 sets

Stefanie Voegele d. Yaroslava Shvedova in 2 sets

Nicole Gibbs d. Shuai Zhang in 2 tight sets