News & Photos
Day 11 - (1) Victoria Azarenka v (29) Sloane Stephens
Head-to-head
| First meeting. | First meeting. |
Will win if...
| She continues to play her game. Vika has dropped just one set so far, to young American Jamie Hampton. She looks strong, determined and is, by all reports, injury-free, putting her in a strong position to defend her title. | She repeats her quarterfinal performance. Stephens played one of her best-ever matches to oust Serena Williams, and she’ll need to be just as good in this match. Going head to head with Azarenka from the baseline will be daunting, so she’ll have to try and move the world No.1 around. |
Heading in...
| Curiously Azarenka has not defeated a single seeded player. Her wins so far have come against Monica Niculescu, Eleni Daniilidou, Jamie Hampton, Elena Vesnina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, although you could argue that Kuznetsova would have been seeded if it wasn’t for injury in 2012. | The 29th seed in Melbourne, Laura Robson did Stephens a favour by eliminating eighth seed Petra Kvitova. Stephens has also knocked out Simona Halep, Kristina Mladenovic, Bojana Jovanovski and, of course, Williams. |
Look out for...
| A relatively quick match. Azarenka has spent an average of 79 minutes on court per match in her first five outings in Melbourne. | Support. The Rod Laver Arena crowd loves an underdog, and that’s just what Stephens is. If it’s a close match, watch for the crowd to get behind the 29th seed and try to carry her over the line. |
Know this stat
| $7,923,920. Vika’s prize money for 2012, a record. | 6-1. That’s Stephens’ win-loss record at the Australian Open in her two visits. |
X-factor
| Determination. Few are as driven as Azarenka, and it’s clear she wants to defend her title more than anything. | Confidence. Stephens’ confidence should be at an all-time high after upsetting Williams, so if there’s ever a time to play the world No.1, this is it. |