AO 2013 - Quarterfinals - Serena Williams v. Sloane Stephens

[TennisFan436]

I am most looking forward to seeing this match alongside Federer/Tsonga. Any predictions?

[always_crosscourt]

Oh my, this ain't gonna be pretty.

[Overdrive]

Won't watch this. While I praise Stephens for being still in the running as a teenager, but her and S. Williams are boring and all or their matches have been boring as well.
I was actually glad that the Williams sisters lost to Errani/Vinci yesterday.

[iri10]

Sloane clammed up when faced with power hitters in the previous rounds. But interestingly, she didn't do that in the first set against Serena when she played her in Brisbane a few weeks back. I think she felt she had "nothing to lose" or something. Ended up being a close 6-4 set where Serena didn't break until 4-4.

I'm sort of interested for that reason - which Sloane will come out of the gates today? The final result won't be in doubt, though.

[Soianka]

Serena apparently re-hurt her ankle while playing doubles yesterday

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by TennisFan436

I am most looking forward to seeing this match alongside Federer/Tsonga. Any predictions?

It would be awesome if Tsonga could win this year.

As for predictions, unless Serena is very hampered by her ankle or has a complete meltdown, I think she wins in 2 EASY sets. Easier than Brisbane.

[The-Champ]

Queen Serena is basically a new player now. She doesn't go for too much on her groundies but picks her spots and pulls the trigger only when necessary which results in less UE. I also like the fact that she doesn't track down every freakin' ball, which will make her play longer on tour and win more majors. She will at least reach 18 this year IMO.

The new Serena has:

1. Better serve than ever due to less speed but better placement and higher pecentage.

2. More intelligent on court.

---She is obviously slower but the positives outweigh the negative.

Sloane unfortunately will lose against the GOAT Serena in two easy sets.

American tennis is pretty much alive.

[Brian11785]

Originally Posted by Soianka

Serena apparently re-hurt her ankle while playing doubles yesterday

Is that true? If so, that might explain Venus' lackluster performance (perhaps "convincingly choking" to minimize Serena's court time.

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Serena needs to stop propping up Venus with doubles play. There was a time when Venus was still a force on the singles tour, so the doubles team-up did not seem so one-sided, but now that she's a washout there, her only chance to win majors is as a doubles player.

That said, Serena's singles career on fire, so she will have to make a decision THIS YEAR about the negative impact of doubles play on the stablilty of her body.

[Sid_Vicious]

Slone Stephens sure has the confidence. I saw her press conference the other day and it reminded me of Tomic's presser before facing Federer.

[tennisaddict]

Sloane lost to Vesnina last week. So please get some perspective. It will need Steffi Graf to step out of retirement for anyone to challenger her at AO now

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by TennisFan436

I am most looking forward to seeing this match alongside Federer/Tsonga. Any predictions?

if this newbie still has this Hero worship syndrome then this could be another boring blow out. I hope she doesn't

[D-money]

I just want to watch Serena lose. That said I don't think Sloane can be the one to knock her off.

[jaggy]

Love to see the sloane ranger do it.

[Relinquis]

Serena will win in 2. Can't see it ending any other way, unless she retires due to injury... Even then...

[kishnabe]

Serena in 2......though Stephens will take the most games out of her since this event.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by Brian11785

Is that true? If so, that might explain Venus' lackluster performance (perhaps "convincingly choking" to minimize Serena's court time.

I don't think so as Venus' bad playing just prolonged the match.

They served for it twice in the 2nd set. Had Venus played a little better, they would have won pretty quickly and been off the court a lot sooner.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by tennisaddict

Sloane lost to Vesnina last week. So please get some perspective. It will need Steffi Graf to step out of retirement for anyone to challenger her at AO now

Yes, people are really hyping this match.

The only way Sloane wins is if Serena is injured or has an emotional meltdown.

[TennisFan436]

I am actually glad Serena is out of doubles. She needs to rest that ankle in time for the SF and possibly finals matches.

[Relinquis]

Match about to start... Williams practicing serves, Stephens averting her eyes*...




* Kidding. That will happen after the first game. Serena serves first.