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Stephens in Open windfall

By Laura Gardiner
24 January 2013 02:46PM EST

BUDDING queen of the court Sloane Stephens will earn almost as much cash even if she loses her Australian Open semi-final, as she has in her entire previously unheralded career.

Stephens, still just 19, will pocket an impressive $500,000 from her historic first-ever grand slam final four appearance at the Open on Thursday in Melbourne.

Stephens, who caused the upset of the tournament when she ousted five-times Open champion Serena Williams in their quarter-final clash on Wednesday, will face polished Belarussian Victoria Azarenka for a place in the final.

Reigning champion Azarenka is, as expected, the short-priced favourite to advance to an Open final clash against Chinese star Li Na, who defeated glamour-girl Maria Sharapova in straight sets in their semi-final.

But, win or lose, Stephens still stands to come away with an impressive windfall, with her guaranteed total prize money nearly exceeding her whole career's earnings of AUD$660,641.

The up-and-coming American star's previous best result in a grand slam was a fourth-round exit at Roland Garros last year.

Stephens, a Florida native, netted half-a-million dollars when she stunned her idol Williams at Rod Laver Arena.

The budding star also stands to win in the exchange rate stakes, earning an extra $26k against the weaker US dollar.

Men's and women's Australian Open winners take home a jaw-dropping $2,430,000, while the runners-up pocket a not-too-shabby $1,215,000 for their efforts.

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