(bleacher report)
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Serena Williams has been eliminated from the 2013 Australian Open after falling to 19-year-old American Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals by a score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
The loss snaps a 20-match win streak for Serena.
Williams had been cruising prior to the defeat. The No. 3-seeded American, who won Wimbledon, gold at the 2012 London Olympics and the U.S. Open last year, had not lost in singles play since last August.
Back spasms plagued Serena throughout the second half of the match. The 15-time Grand Slam winner hurt her back trying to avoid the net in the second set.
She called for a trainer after the ninth game with the score 5-4 and on serve. She had trouble getting her serve above 90 mph after.
Williams let out her frustrations on her racket in the third set. Feeling the match slipping away, she smashed it twice on the court during the set's 2-1 changeover and then tossed it in her bag.
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Despite her loss, Williams will remain one of the top contenders in the women's game throughout 2013.
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