Stephens Is Finding Pressure As A Young Star

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th March 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

Stephens Is Finding Pressure As A Young Star

epa03640565 Sloane Stephens of the US returns the ball to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their fourth round match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 25 March 2013. The tournament runs through 31 March. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Sloane Stephens always knew she had a tough act to follow after ousting her heroine Serena Williams from the Australian Open and things have been arduous for the American who turned 20 years of age last week and is no longer viewed as just a promising youngster.

Stephens’ travails against Victoria Azarenka in Melbourne further thrust her into the world spotlight but since then she has only won two matches and at the Sony Open in Miami, she crumbled to a lamentable defeat against defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

“Just a rough time,” answered a less than communicative Stephens when asked to identify what has happened to her game. “There’s no specific thing that I’d say has happened or is not happening, but I don’t think it really matters.

“My life has changed, yeah, but I wouldn’t say I’m in a panic or anything.”

A few days earlier Stephens appeared even more ill at ease as she was called to face the world’s press at Crandon Park.

“Obviously going week to week is a little difficult and a little bit draining,” admitted the player who seemed so light-hearted and entertaining in Australia. “But just got to keep going. It’s definitely tough staying in there, staying focused. It’s a lot of effort, a lot of hard work.”

Stephens most painful defeat came when she lost in straight sets to Urszula Radwanska in her first match at Indian Wells and there have also been tough loses to Sorana Cirstea in Dubai and Klara Zakopalova in Doha.

“It’s definitely tougher,” acknowledged 16th ranked Stephens who claimed media and commercial commitments were taking up too much of her time. “But it comes with the territory. I want to be a professional tennis player, and this is what I wanted to do with my life. I want to play tennis and this is what I love to do, so I have to do all these other things, too.”