Sloane Stephens needs a big season

— -- In our lust to add importance to these high-sporting dramas, it is easy to conflate real urgency and perceived urgency. Being down a set and 5-1 in a match is real urgency. It would be fatal to lose another game.

Starting off the year right is an urgency far more perceived. It would be good to gain positive momentum, but the world will not collapse if matters don't immediately fall the right way.

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Momentum is not insignificant, especially in the head game of tennis, the game where the spiral -- either upward or downward -- can come the sharpest. On the women's side of the sport, three players stand out as needing a strong Australian Open to start their year positively.