Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens came through qualifying for the Australian Open

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens came through qualifying for the Australian Open

 DAVID GRAY

Former Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens battled through qualifying for the Australian Open on Thursday to make her first major tournament in a year.

The American eased past Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-5 to book her place in the main draw as she returns from a foot injury that kept her off tour for most of last year.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.