MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams was only thinking out loud when she muttered this Australian Open had been “the worst two weeks.”
Not long after a courtside microphone picked up those comments during her quarterfinal with 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens, things got a whole lot worse.
Stephens outplayed Williams, whose movement and serves had been slowed by a back injury, and beat the 15-time Grand Slam champion 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. It marked Williams’ first loss since Aug. 17, and her first defeat at a Grand Slam tournament since last year’s French Open.
Four-time Australian Open winner Roger Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, looked for a while like he might join Williams on the sideline. But Federer eked out a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 win over 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a match that lasted 3 hours, 34 minutes.
Federer, who broke Tsonga in the fourth game of the deciding set, converted his fifth match point while serving after Tsonga saved four match points in the previous game. Federer, who advanced to the semifinals for the 10th consecutive year at Melbourne Park, will play U.S. Open champion Andy Murray on Friday.
“I thought he played very aggressive,” Federer said. “I love those four-set or five-set thrillers and I was part of one tonight.”
Murray beat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. The other men’s semifinal has defending champion Novak Djokovic playing David Ferrer today.
Williams’ downer of a Grand Slam Down Under started badly when she turned her right ankle in her opening match at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve had a tough two weeks between the ankle ... and my back, which started hurting,” Williams said. “A lot of stuff.”
While Williams packed for home — she and sister Venus have also lost in doubles — Stephens advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal Wednesday night against defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
The top-seeded Azarenka beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1 in the early quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena. Maria Sharapova, who has lost only nine games in five matches, plays Li Na in the other semifinal.
Williams hurt her back in the eighth game of the second set and things got progressively worse. She yelled at herself on several occasions, and smashed a racket into the court, earning a $1,500 fine from tournament officials.
“I was running to the net for a drop shot,” said Williams, describing the injury. “As I went to hit it, it was on the backhand. I even screamed on the court. I totally locked up after that.”
She reiterated after the match that her injuries had made this Australian Open difficult for her.
“Absolutely, I’m almost relieved that it’s over because there’s only so much I felt I could do,” she said. “I’ve been thrown a lot of (curve) balls these two weeks.”
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