In the match of the tournament so far, 19 year old Sloane Stephens did what so many other women have failed to do in the last year; beat Serena Williams!
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka opened the day with a close fought 75 61 win over Kuznetsova in the QF. Trailing 1-4 as Kuznetsova mixed up the game, Victoria looked in trouble. But from there on in, she found her baseline game and regained control. Svetlana struggled early on in the 2nd set and a stumble on the baseline certainly didn't help her ankle, as she rather meekly exited the AO QF for a 3rd time in as many attempts.
Most people expected Victoria to meet (3/3) Serena in the semis. However, (25/29) Stephens had other ideas. The match started in a subdued fashion, neither player comfortable under the hype. Stephens game was non existent as Serena reeled off 5 games from 3-3 to lead 63 20 without hitting her top game. However, after breaking back, Stephens got the benefit of an unfortunate injury of Serena's back whilst she chased down a drop return. After treatment, Serena's serve was severely hampered, but from the baseline she was still tough. Stephens served for the set at 5-3 and even held set point, but got nervous and let Serena back, before ultimately closing out the set 75. The 3rd was as dramatic as they come with Serena beginning to loosen up and Stephens also mixing up her game sublimely at the net. After breaking to lead 4-3, Serena's camp sensed blood but as if by magic, Stephens began to fire and reeled off the last 3 games of the match to reach her 1st Grand Slam semi, winning 36 75 64. It snapped Serena's 20 match, 3 tournament winning streak and was her 1st loss since Cincinnati to Kerber last summer. No Grand Slam for Serena!
Now, Stephens has to right herself to take on Azarenka in a 1st meeting on Thursday. I can't see Stephens pulling off 2 epic wins, but as the 1st American teen to reach this stage of a slam since Serena herself back at the US Open 2001, I put nothing past her.
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