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Sloane Stephens Takes Up Williams Sisters’ Slack At French Open

By | Published on June 2, 2012 | Updated on January 22, 2013 11:51 PM EST
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Sloane Stephens is getting it done at the French Open.

Venus and Serena Williams set the modern table for African-American female tennis players. Perhaps 19-year-old Sloane Stephens is prepared to carry things farther.

The native of Coral Springs, Florida advanced to the fourth round of the French Open — the Williams sisters were ousted earlier in the week — and created quite a buzz at famed Roland Garros.

She beat Mathilde Johansson of France 6-3, 6-2 in the third round and faces a tough hurdle in reigning U.S. Open and 2010 French Open champion Sam Stosur for a right to make i tot the quarterfinals. Think she’s worried? Think again

“Now I’m going to have more Twitter followers,” the bubbly Stephens said after her victory.

She has a legitimate chance to be the next big U.S. tennis star. She continues to improve, comes from an athletic background – her late father, John Stephens, was the 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as a running back with the New England the Patriots; her mother, Sybil Smith, was Boston University’s first All-American in women’s swimming; and she has an infectious personality.

A win over Stosur at this major championship and her Twitter account will truly blow up.

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