By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Serena Williams slammed 14 aces defeating Sloane Stephens, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
Photo credit: @BNPParibasOpen
The front of Serena Williams' pink dress was saturated in sweat as she swiped the swelling moisture from her palms with a towel on this toasty afternoon.
Sloane Stephens made Williams work hard for stretches of this match, but the world No. 1 showed more than enough vigor to get the job done.
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Failing to convert a set point in the 10th game of the opener, Williams raised the degree of difficulty for herself. The top seed lifted her game to a higher level when it mattered most to power past Stephens 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 and advance to the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
"I thought I played a really solid first set," Stephens said. "Obviously I was playing the No. 1 player in the world so it was going to be a little tough. She played well in the second and third set. You know, you win some, you lose some. It was a good effort by me."
It wasn't a vintage Serena performance. She spit out nine double faults, struggled to defend her second serve in the first set and seemed to struggled a bit with her string tension and control at the start. But the top seed hustled hard, hit some timely backhands down the line and plastered 14 aces, including her most imposing serves down the stretch, to put distance between herself and the speedy Stephens.
A flat-footed Serena could not find the range on her strokes or serve in the early stages, while Sloane looked sharp winning 12 of the first 15 points. Stephens broke at love surging out to a 3-0 double-break lead 10 minutes into the match. It was the last time all day she would break serve.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion snapped off a running forehand crosscourt, breaking back for 1-3. That shot seemed to shake the tension out of Williams' arm and the lethargy from her legs. Driving an open stance backhand winner down the line followed by a biting serve, she held for 2-3.
By the sixth game, Williams was driving the ball deeper and cleaned up those early errors. Successive unforced errors from Stephens saw her surrender serve for the second time in a row for 3-3. Williams overcame a three double-fault game, saving two break points, and finally fighting through a demanding game for a 4-3 advantage when Stephens netted a forehand return.
Attacking behind a backhand swing volley, Williams was at net giving Stephens a clear look at the open court down the line. But the 21-year-old American sailed her backhand for set point. Stephens made an aggressive recovery, denying the set point when Williams whacked a forehand wide and planting a forehand volley in the corner to level for 5-all.
In the tie break, three of the first four points were mini breaks. Three unforced errors from the veteran gave Stephens the upper hand at 5-3. Williams could not handle a crackling forehand return down line, handing her opponent set point 15 minutes after Williams' set point. Stephens snatched the 59-minute first set when Williams missed a backhand.
A patchy game from both players opened the second set. The 2014 Indian Wells' quarterfinalist clanked three double faults the ballooned a backhand long, blowing a 40-15 lead as Williams broke to open the second set.
Mental lapses and a sometime apathetic attitude have conspired to drag Stephens down from a career-high rank of No. 11 in 2013 to her current spot of No. 42. Sensing his player's energy and concentration waning, coach Nick Saviano paid a visit to Stephens after she held for 2-3. He urged his charge to "have some fun, go for it, let your shots go" and exhibit more "energy and enthusiasm, show her that you want it."
Launching a wild forehand wide, Stephens dropped serve for the second time in the set, falling behind 2-5. Waiting with ball in hand for the first stiff breeze of the match to blow by, Williams sliced her eighth ace out wide to level after 91 minutes.
"I had some chances and opportunities that I didn't really capitalize on which I should have," Stephens said. "Like I said, I was playing the No. 1 player in the world. When you don't take your chances, it could be a little tough."
Despite serving just 42 percent, Williams won 16 of 19 points played on her serve in the second set.
In the first game of the final set, Stephens stuck a backhand into middle of net to face break point. Spreading the court with her forehand, Williams wisely hit behind Stephens and drew the error to break while Stephens swiped her Head racquet off the court in disgust.
A love hold put Stephens on the scoreboard at 1-2 in the decider. Williams' seventh double fault put in a 30-all bind, She blasted through with a 121 mph ace and penetrating forehand, holding for 3-1.
Attacking behind a forehand, Stephens was in prime position for a forehand volley but shoveled it long. Instead of double break point it was 30-all. Williams exploited that lapse with an ace, eventually holding for 4-2.
The physicality of baseline exchanges, the hot conditions and the heavy drives her opponent continued to dish out drained Stephens, who slapped a shot into net dropping serve again for 2-5. Blasting a 128 mph ace for match point, Williams wrapped up the two hour, six-minute win when Stephens flattened a shot into net.
A once frosty relationship between the two showed signs of spring thaw with a cordial handshake and "good match" and "thank you" from both Americans.
"I told her good job and to keep up the good work," Williams said. "She's doing really well. I know she had some tough results earlier. It's good to see her doing really well again."
The world No. 1 will face either Timea Bacsinszky or Elina Svitolina for a spot in the final four.