Stephens' power propels her into first Grand Slam semifinal since 2013

NEW YORK—A true contrast of playing styles was on display on Tuesday in the US Open quarterfinals. Sloane Stephens battled with Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes, eventually earning the 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) win.

“When I started my comeback at Wimbledon, I could have never even dreamed of something like this happening, with these results and then making the semifinals of my home Slam,” Stephens said. “It is indescribable.”

On paper, Sevastova was the higher-ranked player at No. 17, but Stephens has been a high-caliber player for years, having reached her career-high of No. 11 back in 2013. That was the same season Sevastova called it quits, leaving the game for almost two years after injuries seemingly ruined her career.

Both women have had their fair share of injury setbacks. Stephens was just out for 10 months with a foot injury that required surgery in January. She has talked a lot about how the experience made her appreciate the sport more than ever, and it has showed in her attitude on court in recent weeks.

“I’m just really happy. Obviously before, or when I started playing again at Wimbledon, I didn't expect much,” Stephens said. “I was just playing and having fun, having a good time. I'm still playing and having a good time. That's really all there is to it.”

Stephens has benefitted from taking a step away from the tour by coming back a more appreciative person and a more patient player. An athlete with her kind of power can always have more patience. Even when she was down in the third set, and when she lost the 5-4 and 6-5 games at love, the 24-year-old stayed perfectly calm.

“I just told myself to keep fighting. I’ve been playing so well and so consistent,” she said. “I’ve just been staying so calm on court. I knew that if I just stuck with it and played my game, I was going to have a chance and an opportunity, and that’s what I did.”

What separated the American from Sevastova was a critical factor in the women’s game: power. Stephens has the ability to rip a 111-m.p.h. serve or a 96-m.p.h. forehand winner, and the crowd roars in appreciation when she does. While Sevastova keeps up with her fast footwork, she just can’t match that kind of power. So she simply doesn’t try to.

The Latvian instead relies on drop shots, consistent play and well-placed angles—smart tennis, to be clear. But it’s a style that takes a lot of hard, often-unappreciated work. To her credit, her patient strategy paid off against a big-hitting Maria Sharapova in the fourth round.

“I had to run. I had to be physically fit, to get every ball and just make her work for every point,” Sevastova said after that three-set win on Sunday. “If she hits you off the court, then you say, ‘Congratulations.’ But I try to play smart.

“Sometimes it's an advantage, sometimes not. When they're hitting, they're also making mistakes. So if you move well, if you mix it up, you always have a chance.”

She had her chances against Stephens, but she didn’t appear physically capable of doing all that work again just two days later, especially after receiving a medical timeout after the first set.

Players who lack power are still threats on the WTA tour, of course, but their day job is a lot harder. Maybe Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki or Agnieszka Radwanska would have a Grand Slam title by now if their respective games had some more finishing power.

Players who can produce huge winners and go big on serves and returns are also more appealing to watch, while skilled grinders are less of a blockbuster attraction. The crowd got behind Stephens mostly because she’s American, but also because she produces powerful, spectacular winners.

Power is leading the way at the top of the WTA. Just take a look at this week’s quarterfinals: It’s packed full of notorious big hitters like Stephens, Karolina Pliskova, Venus Williams, Madison Keys and CoCo Vandeweghe.

On top of the power, there’s even more to expect from Stephens’ game this week as she continues to build confidence. As Chris Evert said, “We have not seen Sloane’s best tennis yet,” and that should instill some fear into her next opponent’s heart, which will be either Williams or Petra Kvitova.