Gracious American teenager Sloane Stephens has refused to question Victoria Azarenka’s motives for calling a medical time-out after blowing five match points before clinching their Australian Open semi-final a game later.

The reigning champion won Thursday’s match 6-1 6-4 but only after some horrible unforced errors caused her to squander multiple match points as she tried to serve out the match at 5-3.

A long medical time-out which followed, and during which the top seed left the court, seemed more about regaining calm than treating an injury, with Azarenka later admitting she choked as nerves got the better of her.

But questioned over whether Azarenka was guilty of gamesmanship and ought to apologise, 19-year-old Stephens said as far as she was concerned, it was a routine medical time-out and wasn’t the cause of her defeat.

“I mean, I did lose the next game, but I wouldn’t say that’s because of the medical time-out,” Stephens said.

When it was suggested to her that Azarenka appeared to be dealing with a panic attack rather than an injury, the first-time major semi-finalist remained sympathetic.

“It’s just another something else that happens,” the teenager said.

“Like if it was one of my friends, I would say, ‘Oh, my God, that sounds like a PP’, which is a personal problem.

“Other than that, it’s just unfortunate.”

Stephens said she and Azarenka were good friends off-court and would discuss the incident at some stage.

“I love Vika and we share the same agent. We actually are pretty good friends. I’m sure I’ll see her and we’ll talk about it,” she said.

Stephens, who upset her idol and five-time champion Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, said she emerged from the Australian summer with great momentum and knowing she could compete with anyone.

“For me, it’s definitely a good feeling,” she said.