SLOANE DOESN’T PITY FRIEND MADISON
American feels it’s also a big payday for compatriot
NEW YORK
US Open champion Sloane Stephens said she has no pity for Madison Keys after thrashing her 6-3 6-0 in Saturday’s final, given the huge runners-up cheque her good friend will receive.
Sloane was taken aback when asked if she felt bad for her fellow American after the one-sided affair before a sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Bad for her? She was in the final, too,” Sloane told her postmatch media conference.
“Did you see the cheque she’s getting?” she added to laughter from reporters.
“I’m sure she’ll be just fine.” Madison will pocket over US$1.8 million (RM7.6 million) along with her runnerup silverware, a lucratively nice consolation prize for the 22-year-old Florida resident.
The first-time Grand Slam finalist’s career prize money stood at US$5.7 million (RM24 million) coming into the tournament two weeks ago, where she was the 15th seed.
Along with her winner’s trophy, Sloane can deposit a whopping US$3.7 million (RM15.5 million) into her bank account, a record amount for the tournament.
She joins French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko as the second unseeded player to win one of the four Majors this year.
Prior to arriving in New York, the 24-year-old’s 2017 earnings stood at US$310,000 (RM1.3 million) and her career earnings at US$4.5 million (RM19 million).
Madison suggested the newlyminted Grand Slam champion would be buying drinks to console her at a celebration party planned in New York yesterday.
“Yes, I’ll be buying,” Sloane said with a smile.
Celebrating with her friends might help make the incredible feat Sloane accomplished feel real.
The fairytale began in January when Sloane, her left foot encased in a massive cast, watched the Australian Open from her couch.
She battled back from the injury and said her 11-month hiatus gave her a new appreciation for how lucky she was to play a sport for a living.
That realisation was apparent in the way Sloane played with freedom at Flushing Meadows and in her composure in the decider on Saturday.
“There are 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 say it’s insane,” she said. Reuters
Reuters