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Stephens Wins, Keys Loses, Both Impress at Wimbledon
By Chris Oddo
(June 29, 2013) --
Two of the most promising young American women took the court with varying results on Saturday at Wimbledon, and while only one came away with a victory, each impressed with gritty, mature efforts.
The second highest-ranked American behind Serena Williams,
Sloane Stephens
reached the second week of Wimbledon for the first time in her career, with a 7-6(3), 0-6, 6-4 victory over qualifier
Petra Cetkovska
that was played over two days.
At one point, Stephens, tabbed by many pundits to go deep into this year's wide open Wimbledon draw, dropped eight straight games. But through a choppy, awkward third set the 17th-seed held her nerve to produce her 11th Grand Slam victory of 2013 against only two losses.
That the victory wasn't pretty in any way, shape or form might be a vindication for Stephens rather than cause for concern. Credit the American for having the intelligence to know when remaining passive while a nervous opponent implodes is the right tactical choice to make.
“Yeah, it was definitely tough,” Stephens said afterwards. “Lost focus there. But, I mean, it's a Grand Slam, so you just have to play hard, just keep going, know battling will go a long ways.”
Stephens will face another up-and-coming youngster,
Monica Puig
of Puerto Rico, in the round of 16.
Eighteen-year-old
Madison Keys
played more impressive tennis than Stephens on Saturday, but in the end her easy power and electric serve (she hit 67 winners and 15 aces on the afternoon) wasn't enough to get past fourth-seeded
Agnieszka Radwanska
.
The crafty Pole was pushed to the brink by Keys, but an opportunistic Radwanska ultimately capitalized on a loose service game in the fifth game of the third set and ran off the next two games to find herself a game away from the victory.
Keys would fall behind 0-40 in the next game, but the American sharpshooter responded with some courageous serving to knock back four match points before finally falling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 22 minutes.
Though she didn't come up with the victory, Keys' effort against one of the game's elite players on its grandest stage is clear indication that the American is on the precipice of making a major breakthrough.
Both Keys and Stephens, albeit different in their approach to building points and breaking down opponents, exhibited impressive poise under duress today. Though each is young, neither seems inclined to sabotage themselves with self-doubt or impatience.
Stephens, in a section of the draw that has seen all four top 10 seeds eliminated, displayed her maturity in the press room by refusing to look ahead to a possible final with
Serena Williams
that many feel is a possibility.
“It means nothing,” Stephens said of the pundits' early projections. “Everyone has an opinion and everyone is going to have a projection. It means nothing until the match is actually going to happen or we get that far in the tournament.”
That attitude should suit her well as she takes on Puig, one of only two players left in the draw that is younger than her, on Monday. Keys will have more time to reflect on her loss to Radwanska, and when she does, she'll no doubt be inspired.
As a 17-year-old, she won only two games against Radwanska in Miami. This year at Wimbledon, the match hung in the balance until midway through the final set. Despite the loss, there's lots
for Keys
to feel good about.
For Stephens, despite the scratchy and sometimes sloppy match against Cetkovska, there's still everything to play for.
Robson Becomes First British Woman to Reach Wimbledon Round of 16 Since 1998
Laura Robson
fought back from an early deficit to bring the British faithful to their feet with a resounding 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over New Zealand's
Marina Erakovic
.
2011 Champion
Petra Kvitova
finished the final set of her tilt with Russia's
Ekaterina Makarova
in style, defeating her 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to set up a fourth-round match with Spaniard
Carla Suarez Navarro
.
(Photo Credit: AP)
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