Sport
Australian Open 2013: Sloane Stephens stops Serena Williams
Sloane Stephens celebrates after beating Serena Williams in their Australian Open match. PHOTO/Getty Images
(Reuters) – Sloane Stephens prevailed over Serena Williams 3-6 7-5 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Victoria Azarenka.
The 19-year-old Stephens maintained her focus to see out the victory after Williams, the five-time champion had jarred her back in the second set and left the court for medical treatment.
“Oh my goodness,” an emotional Stephens said in a courtside interview as she secured a maiden grand slam semi-final berth. “I’m sure my grandparents are freaking out. I’m sure they’re watching on the computer.”
The match was billed as a showdown pitting the future of American tennis against the most accomplished player of the present generation, and the early signs indicated that Williams possessed too much power for her younger opponent.
Both players hammered away at each other on serve in the opener with the receiver winning a total of two points until the eighth game, when Williams broke Stephens to take a 5-3 lead then held to seal the set in 28 minutes.
The nature of the contest changed dramatically when Williams, already concerned by an ankle injury sustained in the first round, appeared to twinge her back when chasing a drop shot in the eighth game of the second set.
Visibly in pain, the 31-year-old’s vigor disappeared and she took a medical timeout to have the injury assessed. Tournament officials said she was suffering from spasms.
The 15-times Grand Slam champion, who had looked in such distress that it appeared she would retire from the match, somehow returned but there was no zip to her serve.
