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- No.7 seed Sloane Stephens was a point from a one-set deficit against 2011 Volvo Car Open finalist Elena Vesnina, but the young American turned the tide in emphatic style, capturing her third title of the season, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Charleston right here on wtatennis.com!

Stephens had lost her only prior encounter with Vesnina back in 2013, but appeared to have weathered the storm after falling behind an early break to take a 5-2 lead in the opening set. Vesnina had to win two matches in qualifying just to reach the main draw, however, and was far from finished as she clawed back to win four games in a row and even hold set point behind a barrage of winners.

The 2013 Australian Open semifinalist nonetheless held her nerve and, saving her best tennis for the ensuing tie-break, reclaimed the initiative and never looked back, breaking serve twice more to clinch the victory on her fourth championship point.

"I just said to myself, 'You have to fight for every point and compete.' She's a great player, so I knew I had to stay in every point," she told ESPN's Pam Shriver after the match.

"When I got a couple of opportunities, I took them, so that was great."

Stephens has now won three titles in 2016, starting with the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco. The 23-year-old will take her Charleston victory to Europe to start the red clay season in earnest at the Mutua Madrid Open.

"I love red clay, so starting in Madrid, I think I'll have a lot of fun and just look forward to the French Open."

Later on in press, Stephens credited a change in mindset with helping her reverse a string of disappointing results in Charleston, a tournament where she had only ever won one main draw match in five career appearances.

"Obviously coming into here I have a lot of anxiety coming into this tournament because I've never done well here. I just thought, you know, I'm just going to go have fun. I have nothing to lose. I've only won one match here ever, and just go out and play and have fun because I mean it's just another week, and after this I'll have a nice little break. I'm going to go to Europe.

"I don't have anything to lose. My life is great. It's tennis. And this is what I do every week. So I kind of just changed my mindset, and that worked. So I should just do that every week."

For Vesnina, losing felt pretty close to winning after seven match wins from the qualifying draw; starting the season having to play Grand Slam qualifying for the first time since the 2005 US Open, the Russian veteran has enjoyed a career renaissance since Australia, nabbing wins over Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki in Doha, Venus Williams in Miami, and Sara Errani on Saturday.

"This final is like a win," she said in her post-match press conference. "I know that there's only one winner, and for us, for all the athletes there's only one place, No.1, but here, today, I feel like I'm a winner because I played so many matches from qualies. I was just counting, I had like eight matches in singles and two in doubles, so ten matches in one week. That's quite a lot.

"I'm just really happy about my run here, and let's see how it's going to be the rest of the year. But I'm really looking forward to that because I think it's going to be good."

In the doubles final, French Connection Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic won their first title of the season; the Frenchwomen announced their partnership at the end of 2015 in anticipation of the Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and after two finals at the Apia International Syndey and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the two struck gold in Charleston, taking out top seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova, 6-2, 7-5.

Tennis enthusiasts all know that Germany's Angelique Kerber climbed her way up to the number one spot in the WTA rankings and traded no. 1 spots back and forth with Serena Williams. She is now number three but Sloane Stephens is over 900 because of injuries and looks at her days of lackluster court performances a thing of the past.

Since coming back after surgery with a stress fracture in her foot this past January, she has brought up her game to an all-time extravaganza especially at this Rogers Cup. Stephens' first round at the Canadian event in Toronto, she won nicely defeating Yulia Putintseva in three sets, the first being a tie-breaker.

Then she moved on to the second round with her opponent, another comeback trail lady from an injured hand, Petra Kvitova. She is doing remarkable stuff not only being able to play, but winning and enjoying tennis again. But then came Stephens, who was victorious over her, winning a first set tiebreaker, getting a bit sloppy in the second and then winning the last set to get the match 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.

Afterwards Stephens modestly said that "It's been really tough, I'm slowly working my way back in". It's nice to be modest, but gret to be accurate and when she faced Angelique Kerber in the third round, Stephens taught the German a lesson in cross courting, volleying, getting those first serves in and being aggressive; things that Kerber knows but had trouble executing.

Fans could only keep their eyes glued onto the court action, not believing the dynamics that the once injured-foot lady showed. It was really unbelievable to Stephens' coach Kamau Murray that all of the instructing and talking has paid off.

She was performance perfect and won over Kerber in just under an hour, this time not even dropping a set and closing the match at 6-2, 6-2. "It's been a long road and I'm glad to be playing some good tennis", Stephens smilingly said.

She was pure magic and as some say 'you're only as good as your last stance'; well Stephens' last stance was excellent. But her next opponent as she swung into the quarterfinals was Czech Lucie Safarova, a no-nonsense lady with singles titles and a great resume of doubles crowns with recuperating Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

This quarterfinal was like a tennis theatrical performance, having a bit of drop shots, long rallies, a few painting-of-the-lines and high quality strokes. The first few games was all Stephens as she made her winning point sting.

She had an injured foot but never showed poor footwork. She'd hit the perfect drop shot, a net cord falling in at the right spot and time. Stephens hustled over the court coming up with slices and spinning shots that brought the score to 3-1, 30-love in her favor.

She became expert at marking her spot and going for it with perfection. But Safarova was no lady chump and she also kept her tone on many points with passing shots but gotten only two games as Stephen took the first set 6-2.

The second set had a flip-flop of emotions and strategies. Safarova was more defensive after the end of set one, but in a few minutes the score was 4-1 in the Czech's favor. Where did the fiery Stephens go? Kamau Murray, her coach came on court and had a short discussion but it didn't sink in until the beginning of the last set after Safarova captured the second one at 6-1.

The third and deciding set was the important one to tell the tale and neither one wanted to lose. Stephens put her foot to the metal and lead 3-1 in a few minutes as she worked Safarova side-to-side, keeping her back and then hitting up a passing shot that stung the Czech doubles specialist many times.

As the set got to 5-4 they both see-sawed for 15 minutes leaving Safarova at times noticeably breathless but brought the score to 5-all. The Czech grew more weary and Stephens more aggressive pushing her opponent back, giving passing shots bring the game to 6-5.

It was only a matter of time before she had gotten four more points and had won the two hour match 6-2, 1-6, 7-5; dripping with perspiration a brief on-court interview, Stephens told it like it was giving a broad smille and said "On the match points I tried to play solid...this is only my third time at bat and I hope I keep it going through to the Open".

She now heads solid to the semis of the Rogers Cup, a position she never though she'd be in or a tournament she would have only dreamed of nearly six months ago of playing well and grateful to be able to play again. .

Tennis - Sloane Stephens says she sent some drinks to a person she thought was Denis Shapovalov earlier this year in a Toronto restaurant, but it turned out that the young blond was not the Canadian tennis player after all.

Speaking at the Rogers Cup in Toronto where both players made the semi-finals, Stephens told reporters of the funny incident that happened just after the Davis Cup earlier this year. According to The Toronto Sun, Stephens commented, "I had just seen him on TV probably two days before that playing the Davis Cup.

I was like ‘man, I really love this kid, he’s so good’ and I saw someone that looked identical to him at a restaurant. I was like ‘oh man we gotta send him a drink or something, right, … but he’s like 17 or something.

So I was like maybe not, So … we’ll send his parents a bottle of wine. We did. They enjoyed it and … everything’s cool. I was like it must be him, it looks like the mom on TV, all this stuff. And I looked it up, he lives in Toronto so this makes sense, totally him.

Then I started Googling pictures of him because of the (long blond) hair and stuff and I was like maybe it’s not him. Basically, we ended up sending them vodka and all this stuff. An hour after we had eaten the whole entire meal, I had someone go into the bathroom with the kid, the person who I thought was Denis and it wasn’t him.

I was so disappointed because I was like ‘Oh my god I thought it was him.’ Everyone was like ‘you’re an idiot. But I love him and I’m a huge fan. So you know, go Canadian tennis.”

Playing just her third tournament after a 11-month injury lay-off, Stephens won four matches this week in Toronto including upset wins over Grand Slam champions Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber while Shapovalov made a Cindrella run to the semi-finals with wins over Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal, ending the Spaniard's chance to become World No.

Q. If you can talk about not only getting to your first Grand Slam final but being here at the US Open and getting by Venus, who you have spoken so complimentary of, what are your thoughts right now?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I'm super happy to be in a Grand Slam final. To do it here, obviously, my home slam, is obviously more special. I think this is what every player dreams about.
Fortunately but unfortunately, I had to play Venus, but having four Americans in the semifinals, I think that says a lot about American tennis and where we are right now. I don't think I would have had it any other way. I'm just super proud and honored to be a part of what these four girls were, what we did tonight.
Q. What were you doing during the Australian semifinals?
SLOANE STEPHENS: What was I doing?
Q. Were you watching on television? Where were you and what were you doing during the other majors?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I had just had surgery. I had a massive cast on. I couldn't walk, so I was, like, planted on my couch for, like, two weeks. That was the two weeks, yeah, of the Australian Open, I was at home.
Q. And you were watching?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah. Just watched tennis. I literally couldn't -- I couldn't move. Just on my couch and when the Australian Open came on, I'd watch that. Wake up super early and watch it. Yeah, watch it like any other slam.
Q. 60 years ago, Althea Gibson won her first US Open. This year three black women are in the semifinals. Can you reflect upon that?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I don't think there is any other word to describe it than "amazing" for me and Maddie. Obviously, Venus, we are following in her footsteps. She's been here. She's represented the game so well as an African-American woman. Maddie and I are here to join her and represent just as well as Venus has in the past and honored to be here.
Q. When did you really believe during this match that you actually could win? At what point?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Well, I mean, if you go on the court thinking that you're not going to win, you have already lost, right?
So I went on the court believing that I could win the match today. Obviously things didn't go my way in the second set, but I didn't get too down on myself.
I knew that at some point I'd have an opportunity. It was whether I decided to step up and take it or not was going to be kind of like the deciding factor. I think I did that extremely well at the end of the third set.
Yeah, I just -- I mean, it was a matter of just stepping up and taking the opportunity when it came.
Q. You have described being in a cast, being unable to walk. How would you describe your movement on the court tonight and the feeling it gives you to be able to move as you did?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I think I have been moving well, honestly, from when I started. I knew that it was going to be tough. I was going to have to play my way into shape starting from Wimbledon because I obviously couldn't run that much. I was on a walking boot like a month before I played Wimbledon.
I knew I was going to have to play my way into shape, and I think I've done that pretty well. I got a lot of matches in. I've run a lot. I've played a couple of three-setters.
So, yeah, I think my movement is probably what's kind of kept me in some of these matches, shockingly.
Q. How do you explain getting up so far in the first and what happened in the second?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, I wasn't making that many mistakes in the first set. Venus made a lot of errors. I think in the second set, obviously playing Venus, she's an amazing competitor and she's been here many times before. She wasn't going to just give it to me.
I think she really stepped up her game in the second set. I mean, you don't expect anything else from multi-Grand Slam champion. She's been here before.
I tried just not to get too down on myself. I knew obviously in the third set I would have to fight my tail off and get my racquet on every ball.
Q. Can you just look ahead to Madison and CoCo, depending on who you'll play since we won't see you tomorrow?
SLOANE STEPHENS: That's a good thing (smile), as much as I love you guys. Obviously either one I will be happy to play. It's a Grand Slam final, so it's obviously a neutralizer.
I don't know. I don't know what to say. They're both great players. They both play great tennis. I haven't played either one of them in a long time, so, I mean, they are both playing well. One is going to be in a Grand Slam final. I mean, that's saying a lot.
Q. Your movement has been exceptional, but I have noticed in the comeback that your footwork is a lot more rock solid. Was that a key at all in your work with Kamau?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, obviously when you get in positions like this and you get nervous and tight, obviously big situations, for me personally, focus on my feet. I just have to keep them moving at all times.
I think that's something definitely that I have worked on, because I do get a little, like, sluggish with my feet. So I have focused on, in big moments, just keep them moving at all times and I will be okay.
Q. Your coach has talked about your going back to Chicago and how much that had an impact on you and being around the kids he worked with, seeing their grit. Can you talk about that experience and how it impacted you.
SLOANE STEPHENS: He said that?
Q. Yes, he did.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Where? To who?
Q. To me, tonight.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Okay. I was, like, I don't know where that came from.
No, I love kids, so I love going to a club and being able to hang out and, like, teach kids tennis and help whenever I can.
I think, for me, when I was at a low point and I had a cast on and I had to sit down in a chair and hit, like, being around kids who love tennis and have no idea what's going on and just love you because you're just super cool and good at tennis, I think for me that was just awesome.
I really enjoy the game of tennis, and I think seeing other kids and things like that really kind of, like, lifted my mood when I wasn't in such a great place.
Q. What exactly do you mean when you say "it's a neutralizer being in a Grand Slam final"? And do you think the fact that your first will come against another player in her first makes a difference as opposed to playing somebody who has done it before?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Sure. When I say "neutralizer," I mean, that both players have so many emotions and things going through their head, maybe not the same things, but thinking about different stuff. It's a big occasion for both players, especially neither of them have been in a Grand Slam final before.
I think that it's not one-sided. It's not, oh, she has a lot of experience, a lot of this, a lot of that. Like, when you get to a final, it's a final, especially a Grand Slam final. Like, there's no way to say, Oh, she's going to wipe her off the court or she's going to play better. No. It's anyone's game. You have to come and bring your own game.
Q. Two points away from a loss, and you hit that backhand up-the-line passing shot. It seemed to really fire you up.
SLOANE STEPHENS: That was good, huh (smiling)?
Q. Did it feel like a turning point?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, and then the next two points -- and the next game I played incredible. The first point of the next game I hit that, like, she came in and I hit that lob thingy. I don't know what that was. That was great. And then the second point was the let cord and I hit that thing. Yeah.
Yeah, I think that really gave me some momentum and really pumped me up. Those were the type of opportunities I was talking about, like, when you get your chance, you've really just got to take it and make the most of it.
Q. You had mentioned a couple of times making sure you did not get down on yourself during a match. There were times I believe earlier that might have been more of an issue. In your mind, what has allowed you to be so, I don't know, single-minded and not have that happen? Was it being away, having tennis taken away from you for a stretch? Is it just a matter of experience and maturity? What's allowed you to do that?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, I guess because I'm just getting old (smiling), more calm and just kind of -- it's very situational. Tennis is very situational. I think once you realize that it's not life or death out there, like, things -- like, you can turn a tennis match around.
If you work really hard, if you fight your way through and fight your way back, you can make some things happen for yourself. I think in saying that, obviously, I have -- when I came back from injury, I didn't have all of my tools. Like, I didn't know if I was going to be able to run down every ball, didn't know if my power and timing was still going to be there. I didn't know if everything was still going to be right. The only thing I had to rely on was my fight and making sure every time I was on the court I gave my all.
When I am on the court, I realize if I just stay positive with myself, I can make a lot of things happen, and I can fight back from a lot of things.
It's basically just what I think about. Like, just get my racquet on every ball and stay positive, and something good will come of it.
Q. It's been a long and at times a difficult journey to get this far. What do you think you have learned about yourself in that time that's been the most important?
SLOANE STEPHENS: That I'm a real fighter, that I have a lot of grit. Surprising.
Like, to myself, I don't give up. Like, I'm not just going to give it to someone. I'm not just going to let them take it from me. I'm going to make sure I give everything that I have, and I leave everything on the court at all times, no matter what.
Q. Do you have any memories of watching your first Grand Slam final ever? Tonight, making the finals, did it feel the way you thought it might feel? How did it feel?
SLOANE STEPHENS: My first Grand Slam I ever watched, I talked about this before, like, Venus playing Lindsay Davenport, like, at Wimbledon forever ago. Like, I don't even know what year that was.
But I just thought that was so cool. Now making my first Grand Slam final, I think it's a little bit more overwhelming because this is the US Open. Like, if -- I'm not saying to make it anywhere else would not be as good, but, like, to make it in Australia or Wimbledon, like, that's not home. Like, this is home. Like, my family is here. Like, everyone is here. I have the most amazing crowd. I have the most amazing support. Like, it just feels different.
Q. You had the surgery. Now you're in your first Grand Slam final. Is there anything about the surgery or the time away that made you a better or different tennis player? Are you the same player you were before only older?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, I could say that. Just same player. Just older and wiser (smiling).
Q. The victory tonight, basically ensures that there is going to be a first-time major winner from the young Americans. To what extent, if at all, it signifies some changing of the guard for American tennis or starting to move in that direction, at least?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I just don't want anyone to ever ask me about the state of American tennis ever again (smiling).
It's like I said before on the court, the proof is in the pudding. So we don't ever need, I don't think, to discuss the state of American tennis. I think we are doing great. Four Americans in the semifinals and a Fed Cup final. You see all those junior girls that are playing that are from the U.S.
I don't think we have any problems. I think, if anything, our head of player development, our Fed Cup captain, everyone that's involved with the USTA, like, all's they can be is proud, because American women and men have stepped up in an amazing way. I don't think anyone should ever, at least for not, like, ten years, they shouldn't question it.
Q. When you think back, if you can think back four years ago to the first semifinal, how different was today, your preparation, the whole day? How different of a player and a person are you now, the old age of 24, compared to doing this at 20?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I don't know. I was a baby then. Like, I was just -- I didn't know as much as I know now. I think now a lot of life has happened. I have been through a lot.
A lot of things have happened. I'm just happy to be playing. Happy to be competing. Happy to be in this position. Now no one can ever take away -- like, whether I win the tournament or not, like, I'm a Grand Slam finalist, and no one will ever be able to take that away from me.
Q. On Maddie, she's up 5-1 at the moment, what are your earliest memories of her? When would you have met her? I think you had played once before in Miami.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah.
Q. Talk about how long you have known her.
SLOANE STEPHENS: I have known her for a long time. She's probably one of my closest friends on tour. Love her to death.
I don't know. I don't know how old I was when we met, but we have -- I mean, like I said, she's one of my closest friends on tour. It's obviously going to be tough. It's not easy playing a friend. I think you asked that, too.
Playing another American, that's, like, a neutralizing factor too, because you grew up playing with someone. But, no, if she wins, I'll be so happy that she made the finals. If CoCo wins, I'll be so happy she made the final, too.
Q. Why do you get along with her?
SLOANE STEPHENS: With Maddie? I don't know. We just get along.
Q. Everybody has a different take on their journey. I'm thinking back to that Australian Open semifinal. Is there part of you that thinks back that maybe that happened too soon, caused a lot of stress or pressure for you that, you know, was difficult because you were a baby?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Did you read Ben's article that he wrote about me? It was pretty good, if you didn't read it. I don't know.
But I did answer that question. Yeah. But, no, I think that happened, and a lot of -- I mean, I was a baby, yeah, and a lot of things came with making that semifinal and beating Serena and having that all happen in my life. But everything happens for a reason. Maybe that happened then so I could be prepared for this now.
I don't regret it. I'm still so happy that I made that semifinal and no one can take that away from me.
Yeah. Life happens. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe I was a baby. Maybe I was too young. Who knows?
Q. Some players, if they got broken again and again in the third set, would sort of be brought to their knees, so to speak, or distracted. How were you able to just put that out of your mind, so to speak, and fight on?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I just knew that I had my chances, like I said, and I just battled and just didn't give up. That's all you can do. When you get down in tough situations, just don't give up. Try to fight your way out of it and that's what I did.
Q. You spoke a bit about Maddie as a person. Can you speak about Maddie as a player? How would you describe her as a player? And then do the same about CoCo, since we won't be able to speak with you tomorrow.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Maddie is a great player. CoCo is a great player. I don't know...
Q. Specifically, what do you appreciate most about Maddie's game?
SLOANE STEPHENS: She's a power player. They're both actually power players. They hit very hard. They serve big, first-ball type of players. I mean, I don't know, like -- what? Do you want me to describe her game for you?
Q. Sure. Maddie.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Okay, No. I don't know.
Q. How would you compare her style with yours, for example, in the case of Maddie?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Compare our game styles?
She plays a lot of first-ball tennis, first-strike tennis. She plays aggressive. Same with CoCo.
I don't do that. I use my wheels more and make sure I get a lot of balls back and make the other person play. That's really it. I'm not in the league of breaking down game styles. Sorry.

Q. Congratulations. Remarkable performance tonight. To think you would be here with this trophy in front of you six, eight months ago, and obviously to have the opportunity to play your good friend out there, talk about the probabilities of that and how you would have thought that six or eight months ago.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, definitely I didn't, when I had surgery, I was not thinking that I would be anywhere near a US Open title. Nor did I think I was going to be anywhere near the top 100. I was worried about my protected ranking, and I was worried about using my protected ranking to get in here. I used both of them already for Grand Slams and tournaments and to be able to play. I was thinking about all the wrong things.
Once I kind of let that go and just realized that whatever is meant to be is going to be, that I worked hard to get here and, you know, that's that, then I think a lot of that stress was relieved and I was able to just play free and run and compete and just get out there and get after it every match.
I mean, there is no words to describe how I got here, the process it took or anything like that, because if you told someone this story, they'd be, like, That's insane.
I'm just happy to be here.
Q. Maddie confessed that her nerves got the best of her. How nervous were you before the match as you went on the court and how quickly could you tell that she was nervous?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I was just trying to focus on myself. I was extremely nervous before I went on the court. My coach was like, Just breathe, take deep breaths. You know, like, You'll be fine. Once I got out there, I felt better.
Nervous or not, her being nervous, me being nervous, we're going to have to compete on matter what. We're going to have to play.
I was just fortunate enough to hold it together a little bit longer, and I just went out and completed and ran after every ball. That's all I focused on.
Q. Coming back from the surgery, when you were first able to just start swinging a racquet, was it difficult or discouraging at that time? Was the thought that this is going to be a long road back?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, of course. I mean, I had surgery. I was nonweight-bearing for 16 weeks, so I couldn't walk, put no pressure on my foot. I had on a peg leg, on crutches. Yeah, I don't think -- there is no positive to not being able to walk and not being on one leg. That's not fun for anyone.
So I think I took it all in stride and I just tried to stay as positive as I could, knowing that one day I'd be playing again and things were going to be better. But that's all I really had to look forward to was just being able to get on the court again.
Q. When you were a kid, did you ever imagine this Grand Slam moment and what it would be like, and did any of it meet the same dream that you saw, all that ceremony and all that?
SLOANE STEPHENS: No. I mean, I obviously knew that I always wanted to be here. I always wanted to win a Grand Slam. I think that's everyone's goal, everyone's dream.
Did I know it would be like this after not playing tennis for however many months, being off for 11 months? I didn't think it would be now. But I worked hard and it was there and I took the opportunity when it came up.
Q. Do you feel you're now at a different level, perceived a bit different by your peers and you may be a target now when you take the court in major tournaments?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I don't think of it that way. If anything, I'm still working my way back. I mean I just happen to be -- my ranking is a little higher, but if you think about it, five weeks ago, I was like, 900-and-something, wasn't really a threat. I'm just going to keep going with that and ride that wave for as long as I can.
Q. Describe what was going through your mind after the final point going up into your family box.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Just like, Wow, how insane? I actually won the US Open. Wow. What a moment (smiling).
I think it was a little bit of just, like, Wow. I mean, it's hard to explain, obviously. Winning a tournament is extremely special, but winning the US Open, being an American player, is even more incredible.
I think it was a big moment for both of us. Yeah, it's just insane.
Q. I think we talked after your quarterfinal and I mentioned that you could win a Grand Slam in four days.
SLOANE STEPHENS: We were all, like, Shut up. Yes (smiling).
Q. How did you keep the stakes from getting overwhelming, knowing what was on the line? How did you just go out there and keep that out of your head?
SLOANE STEPHENS: No, what I told you the other day. I've just got to go out and play every match and just compete. Obviously I could have -- at the beginning of the tournament, I could have never said, Oh, yeah, I think I'm going to win the US Open. That sounds ridiculous.
At this point where I am and the comeback, it sounds crazy. When you said that the other day, Oh, in four days you could be a Grand Slam champion, I was, like, really? Like, in four days? So it really puts things into perspective, I'd say.
Q. According to some reports, you were a little nervous last night. Your coach, under the guise of giving you some clean laundry, came up and talked to you. Did that help you relax a little bit?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, he was, like -- I think everyone was freaking out. My mom was talking about shenanigans. My coach was talking about shenanigans. He brought me clothes from, like, four weeks ago that he still had. He was trying to make his way up to me some way to bring me these clothes.
I think everyone just kinda wanted to make sure I was okay. I was okay, but I think I just had a long time to think about playing in the finals of a Grand Slam, like a full day. I was literally in my room twiddling my thumbs, like, looking at, like -- I literally was looking at car reviews last night on Auto Trader, like literally. That's how bored I was. I didn't have anything to do.
I don't really want to call anyone, don't want to call friends or anything. They will be, Oh, you're in the finals. So I was just, like, Let me just sit here and do nothing. Yeah.
Q. Are you going to buy a car?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I -- no. I was just looking at safety reviews, honestly. That's kind of weird, but that's what I was doing, yeah.
Q. You seemed pretty stunned, obviously, after the match, but when you met your mom up in the stands, the emotions really seemed to come out. Was that when everything started to hit you? How special was that moment, being able to share it with her?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, definitely. I think for a long time -- obviously my whole life my mom has been very supportive. She's been in my corner the whole time, and I have had, you know, a lot of ups and a lot of downs and some really low downs. And throughout that, my mom has been there 100% with me.
I think just to be able to share that with her and for her to be here -- we spent the last, I don't know, 16 days or something I have been here. It's a long time. That's a lot of personal time (smiling).
So I think that's kind of how it is. So I think for her to be here and just be able to support me -- she hadn't come to any tournaments before this one, so, I mean, I think it was just, you know, a good two weeks for her, two weeks for us. It was nice that we got it right for the two weeks, and I came out with the title.
Q. You had mentioned the other day that you should be in school because you should be graduating. So do you think this accomplishment might be a term paper?
SLOANE STEPHENS: First of all, I'm totally not going to graduate. I haven't done any work for two weeks. I don't think I'm going to make it. My graduation date is December 14th, but I don't think that's going to happen. My professors actually texted me, so maybe they'll let me, you know...slide (smiling).
Q. I know you probably heard that Jozy just scored two goals.
SLOANE STEPHENS: He did. I know. I saw. When I was on the ESPN site, I was, like, Can somebody please check?
Q. You didn't talk to each other yet? How did you guys meet?
SLOANE STEPHENS: We met in fifth grade, but he -- they won 4-0?
Q. 4-0.
SLOANE STEPHENS: That's actually really good. We met in fifth grade, and, yeah, that's pretty much it.
I'm happy they won. I was checking the score the whole time. I'm happy that he scored two goals. That's really good. He should have got a hat trick. It would have been such a good day. Goodness.
Q. You come out for your first Slam final and make three unforced errors in the first 13 games and six for the match. Do you think you might be...
SLOANE STEPHENS: I made six unforced errors in the whole match?
Q. Yeah.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Shut the front door. I don't think that's ever happened to me before. Oh, my God. That's a stat. Snaps for me (snapping fingers).
Okay. Go ahead. What was the question?
Q. Do you think you might be one of the big-game athletes who can handle maybe more than you realized?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Maybe. Yeah, obviously this is a great moment, incredible moment for me, and I was -- like I said, I was nervous, and before the match, I was super nervous.
Once I got out there, I felt a lot better. So that was good. I just tried to stay calm and keep my composure and run every ball down. That was it. Super simple.
Q. Does it take that trophy in front of you to validate your place on the pro tour? Do you feel you arrived a long time ago and already earned your place?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I mean, I think when anyone has -- I'm going to totally put this in my bio, US Open champion. I think when anyone has a Grand Slam champion in front of their name, it changes things a little bit.
So I don't know if I have arrived or already arrived, been arrived, I don't know, but I do know I'm a US Open champion. So whatever that means to you.
Q. You've arrived.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah (smiling).
Q. Since coming back from injury, do you think you have had the luxury of being able to play freer with less pressure?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, maybe. I think it was just the joy of being able to get on the court again and compete, and then being able to play well and compete at a high level.
I think I went from just super excited to be on the court to super excited I was playing well to super excited I just won the US Open.
Q. Growing up, I assume you saw footage of great athletes winning this championship and the other majors. Years from now, how do you think you'll feel when you look at the footage of you celebrating this championship?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I think it will be super cool. I think one day I'm going to, like, be able to show my kids that I won the US Open. That's cool. Like, how many people can say that? Not very many. And they already engraved my name on the locker.
Like, hello. This is awesome.
Q. You're 8-0 in three-setters this year over your five weeks. When you look back on it, can you kind of describe your arc as a competitor? How do you compare now to what you were four years ago or whatever?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Honestly, I don't even remember what happened last week, so to think back on...
Q. Do you think you're a better competitor now than you were before?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, I mean, I could say that, yeah. Little smarter, I'd say. Older, wiser, you know, type of situation.
Q. Madison dropped some not-so-subtle hints she was invited to your celebration tonight and you'll be buying her drinks.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yes, a lot of them, apparently (smiling).
Yes, we are having a little celebration, and she is coming, so...
Q. The trophy is in front of you. It says Sloane Stephens, US Open Women's Champion. At what point is that going to settle in for you?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I don't know. It's probably going to take a couple weeks, months, I don't know. It's like so not real. I feel this is a dream. Like, am I just going to wake up and be, like, it didn't happen?
I don't know. Look at that thing. That's incredible. I mean -- I don't know. I just think it's very cool. It hasn't sunk in yet, but hopefully in a little while once I, like, am able to lay down and relax and think about it, I'll realize that I really am the US Open champion.
Q. I see you responded to a tweet from Chelsea Clinton the other day?
SLOANE STEPHENS: First of all, that was so cool.
Q. Have you ever met her? Were you surprised?
SLOANE STEPHENS: No, I never met her, but maybe she'll want to meet me or something. Hopefully.
Q. Were you surprised?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah. Chelsea Clinton. Who wouldn't be surprised?
Q. You're 5-0 in finals now.
SLOANE STEPHENS: Oh, yeah.
Q. Anything special about that? Also, what's your schedule for the rest of this year?
SLOANE STEPHENS: 5-0 in finals. Yeah, I don't know how I did that, because for a while you were, like, bashing me on Twitter for not being able to win a tournament. Don't know how I have done that (smiling).
We are actually friends now, so don't worry.
But schedule for the rest of the year? I'm honestly not sure. Because I was worried about using my protected ranking to be able to get into the tournament, so now it's, like, looking a little different. I don't know. Like, maybe -- I don't know. I have no idea.
I was, like, literally horrified I wasn't going to be able to get into a lot of tournaments. Now my ranking is higher than my protected ranking. So that changes things a little bit.
I'm going to be, like, seeded at tournaments again. I don't know. It's so exciting, right? How things change so quickly.
Q. You had a nice embrace with your coach in the stands. Can you talk about what he said and what role he's played?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, he's just proud of me, happy for me. Like, obviously it took a lot to get here. As a team, we have been through a lot, having surgeries, like, all the stuff, like, everything we have been through. It's been a long journey. For him, for me, everyone in the box, it was just a really great moment for all of us.
Q. I know this is kind of fresh, but having done this once, does it give you a hunger to win another slam, to do this again, feel this feeling again?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Of course, Girl. Did you see that check that lady handed me? (Laughter.)
Like, yes. Man, if that doesn't make you want to play tennis, I don't know what will. Man.
So, yes, definitely.
Q. If I'm not mistaken, it's been a few years since someone in the women's final, US Open, managed to score a 6-0. Does it make you feel bad for Madison, maybe?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Bad for her? She was in the finals, too. What do you mean? Did you see the check she's about to get? (Laughter.)
I'm sure she'll be just fine.
Q. Congratulations. Do you recall the first moment when you met this trophy in front of you, the first time, watching the TV or walking in the park or went to Newport, any replica, what kind of feeling went through your mind that one day probably I can hold this trophy?
SLOANE STEPHENS: The first time I ever saw it? I don't even remember. But everyone has the cutest photos, like, on the wall in here with this trophy, and that's what I remember seeing most. Everyone has like their best pictures.
So when I was taking my pictures, I was worried about like my boob sweat. Because I was, like, this is a picture they are probably going to use and I look terrible. That's what I remember most about the picture. Sorry.

By almost any measure, Saturday’s women’s final came against all the odds.
By ranking, the matchup between No. 16 Keys and No. 83 Stephens was the lowest for the title match at the US Open since computerized rankings began. Historically, it was only second time that two first-time finalists have faced off in the US Open. And, maybe most improbably of all, both champion Stephens and runner-up Keys underwent surgery this year.
The fact that a player, any player, could reach a major final after surgery is incredible. The fact that both players were in the final Slam of the year after coming off injuries is almost unfathomable.
The story of either player winning the title here in New York would be almost too improbable to be accepted for a Hollywood screenplay. But the fact that it was Stephens who ultimately prevailed is straight out of the Disney realms of fantasy and fairytale.
"Impossible."
That was the word she used on court when asked to describe how likely it was that, at the start of the year, she would be holding the US Open winner’s trophy.
You could almost have said the same thing regardless of the victor.
Stephens was in just her fifth tournament of the past 12 months while Keys was playing in her 10th event of the season.
Stephens returned from an 11-month layoff just this summer after undergoing left foot surgery in January. She was walking in a protective boot less than three months ago and was ranked No. 957 in the world as recently as Aug. 1. Keys, meanwhile, had two surgical procedures on her left wrist, the first in December, the second in June.
Impossible.
The last time two U.S. players faced off in the US Open final was 2002, when Serena Williams defeated older sister Venus, 6-4, 6-3. Saturday's final, the 10th between American women, did not have quite as much star power, but it had every bit as much intrigue, love and respect.
Exclusing Kim Clijsters’ win over Caroline Wozniacki on 2009 when she did not have a ranking, no other two US Open finalists have had a combined ranking as low as the 99 of Keys (16) and Stephens (83). In 2015, Pennetta (26) defeated Vinci (43). Prior to that, world No. 1 Hingis beat Venus (66) in 1997 and Sam Stosur (10) defeated Serena (27) in 2011.
Unranked players aside, Stephens is both the lowest-ranked player to win the US Open and the second-lowest ranked player to reach the title match at any Grand Slam after Chris O’Neil at the 1978 Australian Open.
The 22-year-old, who will be 17th in the world rankings on Monday, has now claimed more wins this fortnight at the 2017 US Open than she had in her last six Grand Slam appearances combined. It’s a testament to her ability, her perseverance and the team with which she has surrounded herself.
Stephens may not remember those other numbers in the coming weeks and years. For her, the only number that will matter is one: her first Grand Slam women’s singles titles. And it came on home soil. Against one of her best friends. Against all the odds.
Impossible.

“Breathe. Swing. Move your feet.” Is there a T-shirt with those words on it yet?

That was the extremely simple, extremely effective advice that Sloane Stephens’ coach, Kamau Murray, gave to her before she walked onto the court for her first Grand Slam final on Sunday.

Those three commands worked because they reminded Stephens that, whatever nerves she might be feeling, her job on this day wasn’t a complicated one. The fact that she was facing one of the sport’s hardest hitters in Madison Keys gave the speedy, steady Sloane a decisive advantage: If worst came to worst, and she began to wilt under the pressure, she could always use her legs and keep making balls, two things that she can do in her sleep. It would be Keys’ job to take the risks.

“I was very nervous,” Stephens said, “but I knew that whatever I was feeling, she was probably feeling, too.”

It turned out that Stephens had nothing to worry about. She quickly settled into an imperturbable groove a few feet behind the baseline. She hit heavy and deep, moved Keys from side to side and returned whatever rockets were launched at her. No need to pull any triggers or aim for any lines or try any high-degree-of-difficulty finesse shots. Sloane’s first two service games were love holds that took a little more than a minute.

Instead it was Keys who had the complicated job of trying to win points outright. Her coach, Lindsay Davenport, told her that she wanted her to “take a lot of balls out of the air.” While Keys can pummel a swing volley, it’s a shot that requires a player to be loose rather than tight. With Stephens getting everything back, Keys said she only grew more anxious as she tried, and failed, to figure out a strategy for winning points.



“I was obviously nervous all morning,” Keys said. “Sloane’s a tough opponent to play when, you know, you’re not making a lot of balls. But then, at the same time, she’s not going to miss, either. I didn’t know what to do once I got on the court, which just intensifies those nerves even more.”

By the fifth game, Keys’ best shot, her forehand, had deserted her. She missed three of them and was broken, and missed three more to lose the next game. Keys, whose left leg was heavily taped, was moving sluggishly and playing without a perceptible plan.

“I think at the end of a Slam, whoever is still on the court is physically going to be feeling something,” she said. “I definitely think my play today came down to nerves and all of that, and I just don’t think I handled the occasion perfectly.”

Keys would never settle in. At the same time, Stephens only got better. She didn’t just hit the ball back in the court; as her confidence grew, she began to dictate points and show off some delicate touch around the net. And she betrayed no nerves at all down the stretch. Down 0-40 at 4-0 in the second, with the fans begging Keys to make it a match, Stephens calmly won five straight points. Her 6-3, 6-0 win was a masterpiece of controlled tennis.

“I just went out and competed and focused on every ball,” said Stephens, who made six unforced errors compared to 30 for Keys. “That’s all I focused on.”

In winning the US Open, though, it turned out that Sloane was just getting warmed up. When Keys’ last forehand landed in the net, Stephens covered her mouth and kept her emotions in check. She saved them, instead, for the long hug she shared with her old friend at the net. “Tough one,” she told Keys as they embraced. A few minutes later, as the two waited for the trophy ceremony to begin, Stephens joined Keys on the sideline. As they talked, Madison’s tears dried and she began to laugh.

“Sloane, being the great friend that she is, was very supportive,” said Keys, who planned to make Stephens buy her a drink or three on Saturday night.



Having won the match and consoled her friend, it was on to act three for Sloane: entertaining the press. This is one area where she has traditionally lived up to her potential, and she didn’t disappoint this time.

What was she thinking after the last point?

“Wow, how insane!” Sloane said. “I actually won the US Open. I was just a little bit like ...Wow.”

What did she do to calm her nerves beforehand?

“I was literally in my room twiddling my thumbs … I literally was looking at car reviews on Autotrader … I was just looking at safety reviews, honestly. That’s kind of weird, but that’s what I was doing.”

How did she feel about making just six unforced errors?

“I made six unforced errors in the whole match?” a shocked Sloane cried. “Shut the front door. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before. Oh my God. That’s a stat.”

Does winning this Slam make her hungry for more?



“Of course, girl! Did you see that check that lady handed me? Like, yes. Man, if that doesn’t make you want to play tennis, I don’t know what will. Man…”

Sloane, in short, was in her glory. In a matter of a few hours, she had proven herself to a be a tennis player of the highest caliber, the best friend a woman could ask for and a born comedienne.

If it was surreal for us to think of her as a US Open champion, it seemed to be doubly unbelievable for her. But by the end of her presser, Stephens was already beginning to grasp the significance of it. In her own Sloane way, of course.

“I think it will be super cool,” she said when she was asked what she thought it would be like to look back on this day. “I think one day I’m going to, like, be able to show my kids that I won the US Open. Like, how many people can say that? Not very many. And they already engraved my name on the locker.

“Like, hello. This is awesome.”

Sloane Stephens pochwaliła się, że uzyskała dyplom wyższej uczelni. Amerykanka skompletowała również sztab trenerski i rozpoczęła przygotowania do nowego sezonu.
Rafał Smoliński
Rafał Smoliński
14 Grudnia 2017, 21:23
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Getty Images / Etienne Oliveau / Na zdjęciu: Sloane Stephens

Dominic Thiem grał w piłkę z kolegami z kortu. Jego drużyna znów wygrała (wideo)
W przerwie od występów na zawodowych kortach Sloane Stephens ukończyła humanistyczne studia licencjackie na kierunku komunikacja społeczna na Indiana University East w Richmod. - Dałam moim dziadkom powód do dumy - poinformowała szczęśliwa tenisistka. Zaledwie kilka dni wcześniej swoje studia na AWF w Krakowie ukończyły siostry Radwańskie.
Dla Stephens najważniejsze będą teraz przygotowania do nowego sezonu. Amerykanka skompletowała już sztab, który będzie z nią podróżował na turnieje w 2018 roku. W ekipie mistrzyni US Open 2017 znalazły się osoby, które przyczyniły się do jej tegorocznych sukcesów - Othmane Garma oraz główny trener, Kamau Murray. Do zespołu dołączył Andrew Fitzpatrick, który w ostatnich miesiącach współpracował z Johanną Kontą. Brytyjczyk pomagał już raz Amerykance w sezonie 2013, jako sparingpartner.

Indiana University East Class of 2017 Made my grandparents proud this morning! pic.twitter.com/nZKeH7CgpV

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) December 14, 2017
2018 rok Stephens powita w Brisbane, a w ostatnim tygodniu przed Australian Open zaprezentuje się jeszcze w Sydney. W czwartek ogłoszono, że Amerykanka zagra parę pokazowych pojedynków w trakcie męskiej halowej imprezy ATP World Tour 250 - New York Open (12-18 lutego). Jej rywalką będzie Kanadyjka Eugenie Bouchard.

Po triumfie w US Open, Sloane Stephens przegrała sześć spotkań z rzędu. - Nie straciłam przez to pewności siebie. W 2018 rok zamierzam wejść tak samo podekscytowana - powiedziała Amerykanka, która sezon rozpocznie w Brisbane.
Łukasz Iwanek
Łukasz Iwanek
17 Grudnia 2017, 20:26
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Getty Images / Etienne Oliveau / Na zdjęciu: Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens z dyplomem wyższej uczelni i nowym członkiem sztabu
Lato 2017 roku było dla Sloane Stephens jak bajka. W lipcu wróciła po długiej przerwie spowodowanej operacją stopy. Była wtedy notowana na 957. miejscu w rankingu. Osiągnęła półfinały w Toronto i Cincinnati, a następnie wygrała US Open i z przytupem wróciła do Top 20.
Jesienią Amerykanka przegrała sześć meczów z rzędu. Ostatnim jej startem był finał Pucharu Federacji. W Mińsku reprezentacja USA zdobyła tytuł, ale Stephens swoje singlowe pojedynki przegrała, z Aryną Sabalenką i Alaksandrą Sasnowicz.

REKLAMA

- Myślę, że było kilka turniejów, do których nie byłam odpowiednio przygotowana fizycznie i mentalnie. W takiej sytuacji trudno osiągnąć dobry wynik. Jednak przez porażki nie straciłam pewności siebie. W 2018 rok zamierzam wejść tak samo podekscytowana - powiedziała 13. rakieta globu.

Sezon 2018 Amerykanka rozpocznie w Brisbane, gdzie będzie rozstawiona z numerem siódmym. Zagrają tam również m.in. Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Switolina, Caroline Garcia i Johanna Konta.

- Przerwa po sezonie nie była długa, nie miałam zbyt wiele czasu na oswojenie się z nową sytuacją. Jednak starałam się mądrze wykorzystać czas wolny - stwierdziła mistrzyni US Open.

W 2013 roku Stephens doszła w Brisbane do ćwierćfinału. Na drugi turniej w sezonie 2018 Amerykanka wybrała Sydney, gdzie wystąpi po raz pierwszy. Następnie zagra w rozpoczynającym się 15 stycznia Australian Open. Jej najlepszy rezultat w Melbourne to półfinał z 2013 roku.

Sloane Stephens z powodu urazu kolana nie weźmie udziału w rozpoczynającym się 1 stycznia turnieju WTA Premier na kortach twardych w Brisbane. Organizatorzy przyznali już dzikie karty do głównej drabinki.


Rusza pokazówka w Hua Hin. Tenisistki poznały już tajlandzką kuchnię i kulturę
Po wielkim zwycięstwie w US Open 2017 Sloane Stephens nie była w pełni sił. Mimo tego poleciała do Chin i wzięła udział w finale Pucharu Federacji. Jak się okazało, kontuzja kolana nie została jeszcze całkowicie wyleczona. - Sloane potrzebuje jeszcze dodatkowy tydzień rehabilitacji, a to oznacza, że nie zagra w Brisbane International. Nie możemy się doczekać, aby ją zobaczyć w kolejnym sezonie - ogłosili organizatorzy.
Stephens ma nadzieję, że zdąży na turniej w Sydney, który będzie jej jedynym sprawdzianem przed wielkoszlemowym Australian Open 2018. W Brisbane gwiazd nie zabraknie. Tytułu będzie tu bronić Czeszka Karolina Pliskova, a na jej drodze staną m.in. Hiszpanka Garbine Muguruza, Ukrainka Elina Switolina, Francuzka Caroline Garcia i Brytyjka Johanna Konta.

Organizatorzy zawodów Brisbane International ogłosili, że dzikie karty do głównej drabinki otrzymały Destanee Aiava i Ajla Tomljanović. - Jestem podekscytowana, że powrócę do Brisbane. To dla mnie wielka szansa, aby wykonać postęp w mojej karierze, dlatego pragnę podziękować Tennis Australia za przyznanie mi dzikiej karty - powiedziała Aiava, która tydzień temu wywalczyła przepustkę do Australian Open 2018. W sezonie 2017 urodzona w 2000 roku tenisistka udanie przeszła przez eliminacje, a w I rundzie zwyciężyła Bethanie Mattek-Sands, dzięki czemu wygrała premierowy mecz w WTA Tour.