WTA: Top 5 upsets of the year 2013

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 23: Serena Williams of the United States of America celebrates a point in her Quarterfinal match against Sloane Stephens of the United States of America during day ten of the 2013 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

4)Sloane Stephens’ victory over Serena at the Australian Open

In an all-American derby, 19 year-old Sloane Stephens beat Serena Williams 3-6 7-5 6-4 to enter her first ever Grand Slam semi-final. This heart-breaking loss ended a string of 20 consecutive wins for Serena Williams, and gave 29^th ranked Sloane, arguably the biggest win of her short, yet eventful, career thus far.

Williams sustained an ankle injury in the second set which did affect her movement, but attributing this loss entirely to injury, would be belittling Stephens’ commendable performance. It took an enormous amount of effort from the rookie to beat her “idol and mentor” Serena, who is, incidentally, five-time champion at the major. An animated Stephens later quoted, “When I woke up Wednesday morning I had a good feeling about the match against Serena.” This self-belief will go a long way in establishing one of the most exciting rivalries in the history of American tennis.