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Stephens On Most Annoying, Amazing Opponents


There's a fine line between magical and maddening.

Sloane Stephens cites two players as both annoying and awe-inspiring: the recently-retired Agnieszka Radwanska and Romanian spin doctor Monica Niculescu.

Watch: 5 Agnieska Radwanska Moments of Brilliance

Meeting the media in Brisbane before her opener against Johanna Konta, Stephens said both Radwanska and Niculescu are unpredictable and unique.

Winless in four career meetings with Radwanska, Stephens said the former Wimbledon finalist's soft hands, quick feet and Ninja skill dispensing bamboozling angles and spins made her a nightmare nemesis.

"She was a beast," Stephens said of Radwanska. "Obviously, someone that got every ball back. She made you work for every point. I think in the women's game, there's always a couple of people who were just as annoying as hell to play.

"And you guys already know that Niculescu is the most aggravating person on the planet to play. But I'd say Radwanska is pretty high up there too. And I think those two, for me, are like what a headache. But in their own right two really amazing players."


Weird was wondrous when creative force Radwanska was at her best. Stephens praised Radwanska for doing "some amazing shit."

"They brought something different to the game," Stephens said. "And I think that when you have a game like that that's so special and unique, like they can create stuff from all over the court and do really weird stuff that like no one else can do, I think that's pretty cool and that's something to be proud of.

"Obviously, (Radwanska) was a master on the court. And I think when she looks back on her career, she did some amazing shit. I don't know how she did it, but she was good at it."

Photo credit: Miami Open Facebook

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