Wow a new American tennis star is born

[malaise]

Sloane Stephens to the semis taking out Serena Williams

[malaise]

1. She's the first American to reach a semi-final grand slam

On Edit - Correction - that's wrong Lindsay Davenport reached the Wimbledon semis in 2005.

[dsc]

4. yeah that really does

The Williams sisters are getting up there in terms of a professional sports career so we need someone to step up.

[malaise]

5. Yep - this kid can play

I wish her well

[fishwax]

13. Capriati made a few semis in that time, too

Most recently the US Open in 2004, I think (maybe the Australian the same year or the year after) ...

[farminator3000]

2. she's great

she seems like a total sweetheart, too.

http://www.sloanestephens.com/

[malaise]

3. Hope she goes all the way although

Serena does have that ankle injury

[farminator3000]

7. azarenka can be kind of fragile mentally.

serena just got busted for the mics picking up her saying 'this has been the worst 2 weeks'

the ankle maybe, i think the back thing was a bit of drama (not serena!)

i can see her beating azarenka, but maria is playing almost as well as last time she won the aussie open (2008?), when she destroyed serena AND henin, so i say sloane loses 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

i have been in love with maria for 8 years, so i'm biased...

[Lucy21]

10. Sharapova did not beat

Serena at the AO in 2008. She has not beaten Serena in 9 years, and has a 2-10 H2H against her with both wins coming in 2004.

[farminator3000]

12. you're right, jelena beat serena then

but maria crushed justine. and ivanovic. and everyone else.

if she could keep it together for the rest of the year, she could win all 4 slams.

[malaise]

14. Truthfully that ankle has been a problem since the first match

Ah well - life goes on

[Logical]

6. Just finished watching! Wow! Great girl! n-t

[a kennedy]

8. I posted this in the "sports" forum......

and I am so happy the American women are coming along....it's been quite a ride the William sisters. Good luck Sloane.

[farminator3000]

9. sloane has 16,000 new followers on twitter

in the last hour or so!

[TDale313]

11. So happy for her.

She's got game, for sure.

[malaise]

15. Her mother was a Division 1 swimmer at Boston College and

her dad was NFL - she's got genes, socialization and game

[xchrom]

16. here she is