Stephens, who won the first set in just 23 minutes, threw everything she had at Williams, literally. In the eighth game of the third set, she tossed her racket at a ball that fizzed past her forehand.

Venus, who was beaten by younger sister Serena in the 2002 final, lost 7-6 (5), 6-1 to the 40th-ranked Sloane Stephens, a 22-year-old up-and-coming American player.

While Stephens has played Serena five times (1-4), this was her first real match against Venus. "I didn't know if she was going to boss me off the court or how that was going to go,'' Stephens said.

Sloane Stephens of the U.S. serves to compatriot Serena Williams during their women's singles quarter-final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, January 23, 2013.