Roar Guru
Joined November 2012
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Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
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It's been nearly 10 years since one of the Williams sisters played another American in a Grand Slam quarterfinal but today 19-year-old Sloane Stephens…
After ending her home soil hoodoo on Monday with a win over Taiwan's Kai-Chen Chang, Sam Stosur will continue her quest for back-to-back home…
Australian young gun Bernard Tomic once again takes centre stage at the Perth Arena for the 2013 Hopman Cup when Australia battle Italy in…
Hometown favourites Australia will do battle with big guns Serbia this evening in one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2013 Hopman Cup.…
It's all over. Seventeen years, 168 tests, 13, 378 runs, 287 innings, 41 hundreds and 196 catches later, Australian batsman and ex-captain Ricky ‘Punter'…
Trainer has come out and it looks to be a back issue for Serena rather than the ankle which we first suspected. She has gone off court for the time being for treatment…
Stephens 3 5
Williams 6 4
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
BREAK WILLIAMS -A backhand lands long by Stephens to send it to deuce and an unfortunate double fault gives the break point to WIlliams. She converts with some monster hitting which Stephens has no reply. It looked like Serena’s tactic for that game was to just hit it as hard as she could to avoid running around. Back to 5-4 and as we expected Williams calls for the trainer.
Stephens 3 5
Williams 6 4
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Serena squirming on court. It’s clear she’s in pain. Two monster returns allows her back in the game at 30-30 but it’s set point to the Stephens now as a backhand out wide allows the youngster to come into the net for an easy put away.
Stephens 3 5
Williams 6 3
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
BREAK STEPHENS – Bit of an awkward shot by Serena as she tries to hit a clean backhand winner at the net. Looks to have landed awkwardly on her ankle which isn’t a good sign.
The next two serves by Serena have hardly any pace and Stephens breaks. The world number three looking in a spot of bother at the moment.
Stephens 3 5
Williams 6 3
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Beautiful point as Stephens has upped the anti swinging freely from all corners and pushing forward to the net for the clean winner. 0-15.
A lazy backhand from Serena into the net now piles even more pressure as the scoreboard races to 0-30.
Stephens 3 4
Williams 6 3
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Another nice hold by Stephens as her serve out wide forces Serena’s return to hit the large KIA sign on the edge of the net.
Pressure is clearly on Williams at the moment and it’s certainly showing with signs of tightness in all facets of her game right now.
Stephens 3 4
Williams 6 3
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Serena’s serve the saviour in that game as two big serves allow her to hold for 3-all. She still doesn’t seem all that comfortable out there at the moment though.
Stephens 3 3
Williams 6 3
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Some more lovely groundstrokes on the rise from Stephens gives her a break point in the game but Serena serves up her 3rd ace of the match, this time down the T to send it back to deuce.
Stephens 3 3
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Stephens with the slight momentum at the moment who holds serve to take the lead in this second set. More spark coming off the 19-year-old’s racquet and she is finding more fluidity in her shot making. Serena’s footwork is not up to par at the moment though which is one of her main issues.
Stephens 3 3
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
BREAK STEPHENS – Some beautiful hitting by Stephens from the baseline puts pressure on Williams who on two points in a row sends a groundstroke long. Better signs from the 19-year-old who needs to stay on the offensive to have any chance. Back on serve now.
Stephens 3 2
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Both players hitting through the ball more cleanly now and finally a nice rally appears. Stephens was on the front foot dictating play from the baseline and her aggressiveness paid off as she moved forehand to hit a backhand volley winner. It’s now deuce.
Stephens 3 1
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
A return of serve goes long by Stephens to make it 30-15 but then counter hits a powerful 171km/hr serve to catch Serena off guard to make it 30-30.
Stephens 3 1
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
A big 161km/hr ace by Williams gives her the first point of the game. Serena then tries to hit a backhand winner down the line but pushes it just wide. 15-all
Stephens 3 1
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Serena not happy as she sends a return of serve wide at 30-0 to hand Stephens three game points. Much better game from the youngster though who hits a winner down the line which Williams doesn’t even attempt to go for. She holds to love.
Stephens 3 1
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Another comfortable hold for Williams who is slowly starting to find her rhythm. Stephens has fallen off the pace in the last couple of games but needs to get it back quick if she is to stay with Serena.
Stephens 3 0
Williams 6 2
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
BREAK WILLIAMS – Apologies the tv coverage only came back on when Stephens was already down two break points at 15-40 so I can’t tell you what happened. Commentator Sam Smith alerts to the fact that Stephens came out rather flat and also hit a double fault so I imagine that’s a huge part of it.
Anyway, Stephens sends her off-forehand just wide and hands Williams the break in the opening game.
Stephens 3 0
Williams 6 1
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
A rather uneventful first set if I do say so. Both players holding comfortably on serve until silly shot making some unforced errors handed the break the way of the 15-time Grand Slam champion. Hopefully the second set will pick up a bit.
Stephens 3 0
Williams 6 0
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
FIRST SET WILLIAMS – And she only needs the one as another big serve down the T from Williams is unreachable to Stephens who hits it well into the tram lines. First set Williams 6-3.
Stephens 3
Williams 6
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
A big miss hit on the return of serve by Stephens hands Serena her first set point at 40-30.
Stephens 3
Williams 5
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Two exchanges of errors into the net from both players and its 30-30.
Stephens 3
Williams 5
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Both players matching each other’s pace with their groundstrokes at 114km.hr. We all know who hard Serena hits the ball but Stephens is staying with her. Great signs.
Stephens 3
Williams 5
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
BREAK WILLIAMS – After some impressive serving by Stephens, not losing a point on serve up until that last game she concedes with a backhand into the net to hand Serena the break.
A fist pump and Come On from Williams rings out..
Stephens 3
Williams 5
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
A double fault by Stephens brings up three break points but she manages to save two with some great pressure and quick movement to force Williams into the error. Still one break point though. 30-40.
Stephens 3
Williams 4
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
Missed forehand by Stephens hands her her first lost point on serve. 0-15.
A poor shot selection by Stephens hitting a drop shot allows Serena to come in and put it away for 0-30.
Stephens 3
Williams 4
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog
This would be an awful way to end the match and for the world number three to finish. Let’s hope it’s not as bad it looks.
Stephens 3 5
Williams 6 4
Serena Williams vs Sloane Stephens: Australian Open 2013 live scores, blog