Stephens wins first WTA match

American teenager Sloane Stephens won her first match at WTA Tour level at the tender age of 16 as she beat Lucie Hradecka to advance to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Stephens had to fight for it but eventually beat the Czech 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (9-7) to go through.

But hers was a rare American success as Shenay Perry and Melanie Oudin made quick exits.

Perry lost 6-2 4-6 6-3 to Karolina Sprem, while Oudin went down 3-6 6-3 6-0 to Italian Roberta Vinci.

Also advancing were Carla Suarez Navarro, Yung-Jan Chan, Tsvetana Pironkova, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Petra Martic, Sybille Bammer, Alexandra Dulghera, Julia Goerges, Anastasija Sevastova and Julie Coin.