In transition, Sloane Stephens bottoms out in 6-3, 6-0 loss to Voegele

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—The early rounds of a tournament can be the trickiest for Sloane Stephens, who in the past two years has won a Miami Open, US Open and finished runner-up at Roland Garros. Consistency still eludes the talented American, and Stefanie Voegele had much more of it on Friday. In her opening-round match, the No. 4 seed at the BNP Paribas Open bowed out in just 68 minutes to Stefanie Voegele, 6-3, 6-0.

It's unclear which Stephens opponents will get when she steps on court, even at 25. When she's fully engaged, Stephens can be unbeatable, as she's proven over the past two seasons. When she's off, she can be extremely erratic, which has resulted in a career of giant ebbs and flows.

"Sometimes things are really s*itty, and they always get better. So that's good," Stephens said after falling to 1-5 lifetime against Voegele. "I think things will get better. Might not be in the next week. Might not be next week. But for sure in the next couple of months maybe things will figure themselves out."

This period of Stephens' career has been especially tough to navigate, as she split with coach Kamau Murray. Murray led Stephens to her highest of highs, the 2017 US Open, and helped her develop into a Top 10 player. Stephens isn't entirely alone in the coaching world, as she's getting help from U.S. Fed Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi, but it's a transition that it taking her some time to adjust to.

"I want to find someone I get along with, have a good connection with. I'm not just going to pick anyone like, Oh, yeah, I have a coach now," Stephens said. "Not that I'm flying solo, not that I'm not looking. I guess I'm in the middle of [Simona] Halep and a tough place, I guess."

Halep parted ways with Darren Cahill, and briefly hired a new coach before going back to the solo life.

One thing is guaranteed from Stephens, no matter the result: a good attitude in press. She often plays down dramatics, in victory or defeat, and a charming way of silencing her doubters by keeping a relaxed, upbeat mentality—even when the losses pile up.

After capturing her first Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows, Stephens promptly endured a seven-match losing streak. She maintained her poise, rode it out, and emerged as a Miami Open champion a few months later.

This week in Indian Wells—on the heels of an early loss in Acapulco to world No. 172 Beatriz Haddad Maia—will likely end up as just another dip in her rollercoaster season, in which she'll likely raise a trophy or two.

"Like I said, I'm going through a transition. It's tough. Playing a sport is not easy," Stephens said. "But I definitely think that things will get better. And then we will be in a press conference and I'll be, like, See, guys? It's better."