Stephens living a dream
> Injury fightback lifts gritty American to US Open crown
SLOANE STEPHENS spent 11 months sidelined by a left foot injury and the surgery that followed, never dreaming when she returned at Wimbledon in July her first Grand Slam title was only two months away.
But the storybook tale played out just that way as the 24-year-old American won for the 15th time in 17 matches, defeating fellow American and best friend Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 in yesterday’s US Open women’s final.
Stephens, who had won only US$310,000 (RM1.3m) this year, took a top prize of US$3. million (RM12.5m) after learning much about herself and her tennis passion since being hurt last year.
“That I’m a real fighter, that I have a lot of grit. I don’t give up,” Stephens said.
“I’m not just going to let them take it from me. I’m going to make sure I give everything I have, and I leave everything on the court at all times, no matter what.”
It’s a determination bred in frustration after being forced to watch the Australian Open from her couch unable to walk after surgery in January. She still needed a walking boot in June.
“I was super limited. I was walking on a peg leg, so that whole 15 weeks was super tough,” Stephens said. “I think that was my toughest time.”
But it brought a clarity of thought that has enhanced her perspective.
“My head is a little clearer, if that makes any sense,” she said. “Before, I was playing well. I had won a couple tournaments. But being injured gave me a whole new perspective on tennis, on life, and just in general.”
Stephens is the daughter of former NFL player John Stephens, who played five seasons with the New England Patriots before joining Green Bay and Kansas City. Sloane Stephens celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating compatriot Madison Keys in their 2017 US Open Women’s Singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York yesterday. His final season came just months after Sloane was born. He died in a 2009 car accident. Sloane turned professional just weeks later. “Tennis is very situational,” Stephens said. “Once you realise that it’s not life or death out there, 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.” Unsure of her strength, she tested her limits and reached US Open semifinals at Toronto and Cincinnati, finding her skills quickly recovering into top form. “When I came back from injury, I didn’t US OPEN champion Sloane Stephens said she wished her US Open final triumph over close friend Madison Keys could have been a draw rather than the rout it turned out to be.
Stephens, the world No. 83, raced to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over her 15th seeded American compatriot in just over an hour.
Both women embraced at the net before sitting next to each other courtside as they waited for the post-match ceremony to start.
“Maddy is one of my best friends, if not my best friend on tour and I told her I would not have wanted to play anybody else,” said the 24-year-old.
“It’s a special moment. I said to her that I wished it could have been a draw.
“If the situation was the other way around, Maddy would have said the same thing. It’s incredible. It’s what true friendship is all about.”
Stephens only returned to the tour at Wimbledon after missing 11 months having undergone left foot surgery.
Her world ranking slid to 957 before semifinal runs at US Open tuneups in Toronto and Cincinnati. have all of my tools. 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,” she said.
“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. 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.”
Stephens made her best prior Grand Slam run to the 2013 Australian Open semifinals.
“I was a baby then. I didn’t know as much as I know now. A lot of life has happened. I have been through a lot,” Stephens said.
“I don’t regret it. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe I was a baby. Maybe I was too young. Who knows? I’m just happy to be playing.” – AFP
“I had surgery on Jan 23 and if someone had told me then that I would be the US Open champion, I would have said that would be impossible,” said Stephens.
“My journey to get here, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“I should retire now – I’m never going to be able top this.”
Stephens also praised her mother for her support. “When I was a child she took me to a tennis coach who said that I would be lucky to be a division two player.
“But here I am. So parents never give up on your kids.”
Keys too had fought injury battles in recent months, undergoing a second left wrist surgery after the French Open before winning a July title at Stanford.
“I didn’t play my best tennis today and I’m disappointed in that but Sloane was very supportive and if there’s someone I have to lose to today I’m glad it’s her. Sloane is truly one of my favorite people,” said Keys.
“If you told me two months ago I’d be holding a US Open finalist’s trophy I’d have been really happy and proud of myself.”
“It has been a very interesting year.”– AFP