Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens – If you’re an avid tennis fan than you’ve likely heard of Sloane Stephens, if you haven’t, now is the time. The 19-year old Florida teen is set to takeover where Venus and her sister Serena Williams will leave off after their eventual retirement. No one knows that better than Serena which is likely why she has chosen to mentor the rising tennis star.
After her first round win at the US Open Serena said this of Sloane,
“She’s a great person and an amazing player. She’s playing so smooth. She looks like she gives no effort when she plays. She’s such a beautiful, beautiful player and yes, I embrace that. I hope I can teach her some things. We can feed off each other. She can teach me a few things – maybe how to be calm on the court.”
After winning her first round match in an upset against Italy’s Francesca Schiavone, Sloane told the New York Times,
“This year has been unbelievable. It’s been so much fun. I think I’ve learned so much that I’m like, ‘Wow, 2012 has been pretty good to me.’ ”
In an update at the Open:
Andy Roddick confirms his plans to retire after the Open
Venus Williams lost in the second round to Angelique Kerber in a three-set, 2 hours and 25 minutes thriller. The score: 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
Serena advances to the third round after overpowering Maria Jose Martinez of Spain, 6-2, 6-4.
Sloane will try to stop history from repeating itself as she enters the third round against Anna Ivanovic. Last year she lost to 3-6, 4-6 to Ivanovic.
