8 interesting facts about US Open champion Sloane Stephens

American Tennis player, Sloane Stephens, completed a fairy tale Grand Slam triumph beating her compatriot Madison Keys in the women’s singles final of the 2017 U.S. Open.

Since the feat, Stephens’ profile has been on the receiving end of much speculation as many scramble to learn more about the star athlete.

Here is a compilation of few facts about the 24-year old, who lifted her very first major title after cruising past her childhood friend, Keys, 6-3 6-0 last Saturday.

1. Stephens made her professional debut at 14.

Born March 20, 1993, Stephens started playing tennis at the age of nine but made her professional debut on the ITF Circuit in 2007. But it was in 2008 that she received a wildcard to the Sony Ericssson Open in Miami, where she crashed out in the first round.

2. Her folks were sportspersons

Sloane’s mother, Sybil Smith, was a competitive swimmer, who took sixth-place in the 100m backstroke at the NCAA championships in 1988. Her father, John Stephens, a former NFL running back, played for the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers, and the Kansas City Chiefs around the end of the 1980’s.

3. She is currently dating a footballer

Stephens’ boyfriend is Jozy Altidore, a former forward for Sunderland in the Premier League, who now leads the line for Toronto FC. Altidore wasn’t present for Sloane’s victory as he was taking to the field himself in an MLS game, finding out about her win through his mother who was in the stands at his match.

4. She pulled out of last year’s US Open due to injury

Stephens was forced to drop out of the 2016 US Open after suffering a stress fracture in her right foot. She stayed away from the sport for 11 months, and a year later, returned to finish what she didn’t get a chance to start a year ago.

5. The US Open is her fifth WTA title

Stephen won her first WTA title at the 2015 Washington Open. She then won the Auckland, Mexican and Charleston Opens all in 2016, before emerging champion of the US Open last weekend.

6. Stephens is the 5th unseeded woman to win a Grand Slam

Stephens joins Kim Clijsters (2009) as the only unseeded woman to win the US Open title since 1968, and becomes only the 5th in all Grand Slam events in the Open era.

Ranked as low as 957th six weeks ago, stephens was on no. 83 on the WTA rankings when she completed her incredible victory, defeating highly-ranked players like Venus Williams en route.

7. She became $3.7m richer last weekend

Stephens collected the $3.7m prize money in a cheque on Saturday after her triumph and was quoted to have told a reporter: “Of course, Girl. Did you see that check (cheque) that lady handed me? Like, yes. Man, if that doesn’t make you want to play tennis, I don’t know what will. Man.”

8. Stephens is now world no. 17

Following her incredible victory in New York over the weekend, Stephens has now joined the world top 20 in the WTA rankings released on Monday. However, her highest ever ranking on the tour is 11 back in 2015.

 

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