Sloane Stephens wilts to Pavlychenkova in the fourth round at Melbourne

The fourth round had started late due to a Federer/Tsitsipas duel, but Sloane Stephens and Anastasia Pavlychenkova walked on ready for action. The first three rounds for both players were won comfortably with Stephens never dropping a set from her three opponents.

Pavlychenkov battled it out too but was ready to deal with the fourth round with the 2017 U.S. Open Champion. The first set was nearly all Stephens as she was aggressive and used her tactics to try and gain an opening set advantage.

She led 3-1 continuing to find the open court and move up for strong put-a-way volleys. The crowd was in her favor as she grew more consistent with every point then lead 6-5 and looking strong and spirited to win this match.

But Pavlychenkova had other ideas and pushed the set to a tiebreak. Stephens wouldnt give in and with angled cross courts, volleys and smashes she won the tiebreak in great fashion. It was the second set that Stephens began to falter a bit creating more unforced errors and showing a sluggish demeanor.

The games came to 3-all when those nasty unforced errors crept up more in Stephens game and before long Pavlychenkovas aggression paid off as she now turned the tables on Stephens by blasting volleys and winning on cross court rallies to get the second set 6-3.

The sets were leveled and the tension was high as Stephens knew if she wanted this match shed have to fight hard for it. Pavlychenkova was blasting her returns to have a chance to win. John McEnroe along with Mary Jo Fernandez was commentating and seen firsthand the struggle.

Stephens had to battle to stay in these points, says McEnroe. She had to fight off 8 break points to get the first game of the deciding set. At 4-2 Pavlychenkova had many of the answers to the rallies with Stephens as she continually cranked up on unforced errors.

Stephens now is in all sorts of trouble, McEnroe had nervously commented to Mary Jo Fernandez and it seems like before everyones eyes, Stephens game had collapsed with less aggression and winning points while Pavlychenkova stayed on point and consistent enough to win the decider and the match 6-7, 6-3, 6-3.