Top seed and defending U.S. Open champion Serena Williams never has been accused of modesty, but as she approaches her All-American fourth-round showdown today against 15th-seeded Sloane Stephens, she won’t declare herself the favorite.
“I definitely don’t think I’m going in there as a favorite because she’s playing great, even though I’m playing good too,” Williams said. “She really has nothing to lose and she excels in situations like that. So I think she’ll be really good.”
Williams certainly won’t be the fan favorite. The Open crowds often pull for the young American fresh face, and Stephens has the bubbly personality to match. Serena may have been overly diplomatic, trying to lessen the bad blood that recently has surfaced between the two.
It is the rematch of the Australian Open quarterfinals when Stephens, 20, posted the upset .
Subsequently, their relationship has soured, according to Stephens. In a recent interview in May, she said Serena has barely spoken to her since and defriended her on Facebook — the ultimate indignity. However, both of them claim there’s no more bad blood.
“She’s such a fighter,” Williams said in recalling the Aussie defeat. “I felt like she didn’t stop and she kept going.”
Williams’ third-round match didn’t finish until 1:08 a.m. yesterday morning at Ashe because of the marathon Juan del Potro-Lleyton Hewitt five-setter. Will Serena be at a disadvantage since Stephens had a breezy day match Friday. Serena also played doubles with Venus on the last match of the day card yesterday.
“You have to prepare for this,” Williams said. “Hopefully I won’t play at 11 a.m.”
The match is slated for the third on Ashe today after the Bryans doubles match and Andy Murray’s 1 p.m. bout with Florian Mayer.