{"id":22245,"date":"2021-09-02T00:39:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T05:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=22245"},"modified":"2021-09-02T00:39:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T05:39:33","slug":"sloane-stephens-makes-a-triumphant-return-to-u-s-open-sloane-looks-great-sloane-should-reclaim-her-crown-as-the-us-open-champion-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=22245","title":{"rendered":"Sloane Stephens makes a triumphant return to U.S. Open, SLOANE LOOKS GREAT, SLOANE SHOULD RECLAIM HER CROWN AS THE US OPEN CHAMPION 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"dcr-1nupfq9\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-13a2edo\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-125vfar\">Sloane Stephens wins all-American US Open clash with Coco Gauff<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-zjgnrw\">\n<div class=\" dcr-1qdzrpk\" data-print-layout=\"hide\">\n<ul>\n<li>Stephens beats 21st seed 6-4, 6-2 to reach third round<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-pn0kqp\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-16n5mgq\">\n<figure id=\"cc4607b6-6d75-4473-b416-fc632d2fedab\" class=\"dcr-13udsys\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1b267dg\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=c88807b2dbb31bbc045e33a43a380732 1240w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=41dad88fbcd0bdff9ae28161d8141aa3 1210w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=8093c8f4c6eeb7124083bd8beea1386e 890w\" media=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=85f4abe4c8d3862988b4288e93977a42 620w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=515476ec2f52ae926a91e66d7a08306d 605w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=ce3c275a68858d9e14780f43de5e48a6 445w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"dcr-1989ovb\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5bf1a0834c76c8d9861d8738f6e55ad4b1f5b193\/0_38_4274_2566\/master\/4274.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=8093c8f4c6eeb7124083bd8beea1386e\" alt=\"Sloane Stephens\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-pn0kqp\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\"dcr-16n5mgq\">\n<figure id=\"cc4607b6-6d75-4473-b416-fc632d2fedab\" class=\"dcr-13udsys\"><figcaption class=\"dcr-d5sshu\"><span class=\"dcr-nnoipb\">Sloane Stephens returns a shot against Coco Gauff during their US Open second-round match on Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-1aul2ye\">\n<div class=\"dcr-krkkhw\">\n<div class=\" dcr-ss9mnu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1eucl2a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15yir0q\" data-print-layout=\"hide\">\n<div class=\"dcr-woi6b2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-185kcx9\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-10d97ft\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-bjn8wh\">\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Four years ago, Sloane Stephens <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2017\/sep\/09\/sloane-stephens-madison-keys-us-open-title\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">made a stunning run to the US Open title<\/a> as the world\u2019s 83rd-ranked player. If the 28-year-old American keeps playing like she did on Wednesday night, there\u2019s no reason that improbable history could not repeat itself in the week or so ahead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Amid the steady din of violent rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida that hammered the roof above Arthur Ashe Stadium, Stephens relied on a dialled-in serve, weapons-grade forehand and veteran sangfroid throughout a professional 6-4, 6-2 win over 21st-seeded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/cori-gauff\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Coco Gauff<\/a> in an all-American second-round blockbuster.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"8cacfc72-4cd7-46de-82c2-ae657eb20af9\" class=\"dcr-1mfia18\">\n<div class=\"css-z0y4zp\" data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-0 | 0\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"\">\n<div class=\"css-s7oxzu\">\n<div class=\"css-12vmh7p\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1d91meq\">\n<div class=\"css-m4qltb\">\n<div class=\"css-1gqsble\">US Open 2021: Sloane Stephens defeats Coco Gauff to reach third round \u2013 as it happened<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-vhdaws\">@SloaneStephens<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Gauff, the youngest player in the Women\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/tennis\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tennis<\/a> Association\u2019s top 100 and one of the faces of the tournament, was headlining the night session in the world\u2019s biggest tennis stadium for the first time since reaching the third round on her main-draw debut back in 2019. That became a night she\u2019d sooner forget: a 6-3, 6-0 loss to Naomi Osaka that left her in tears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">The 17-year-old has come a long way since then, reaching this year\u2019s French Open quarter-finals and climbing to a career-high ranking of No 23. But on a night when there was not a whole lot to separate the two, it was Stephens who managed to raise her level at the critical junctures. \u201cI feel like there\u2019s just an experience lacking that I have,\u201d a downcast Gauff admitted in the aftermath. \u201cI definitely think it shows. I think that I just need to play more matches so I feel more comfortable in the pressure moments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">After both players breezed through their opening service games with little resistance, it was Gauff who first betrayed her nerve while serving at 4-all, flinching in three straight baseline rallies to go break point down before gifting away the game with an untimely double fault. After the change of ends, Stephens coolly served out the set in 34 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Stephens\u2019 athleticism and ability to retrieve powerful groundstrokes, in addition to her matured variety and understanding of point construction, gave her a decisive advantage in the lengthier exchanges. So it came as no surprise that she opened the second frame pounding deep, flat groundstrokes down the middle of the court with the goal of extending the rallies and coaxing unforced errors from her younger foe. Moments after saving the only break point she\u2019d face all night at 2-all, Stephens tightened her grip on the proceedings by breaking Gauff at love in the span of about two minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">It got late early from there for the teenager. Stephens held at love to extend a run of 11 straight points won, then went up a double break at 5-2 when Gauff badly sprayed a forehand from behind the baseline. Stephens didn\u2019t mince about in the endgame, rattling off four quick points to hold at love and close the show in 66 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Stephens\u2019 average forehand speed off the ground 78mph was faster than any male or female player on Ashe this year, according to advanced statistics only available on the tournament\u2019s main show court. \u201cThe forehand was key today,\u201d said Stephens, who landed 84% of her first serves in play and won 80% of those points. \u201cI wanted to come out here and really execute and play my game and I was able to do that well, so I\u2019m really pleased with how I played.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"939e4eb7-67aa-4de1-ad04-93d15c8395f8\" class=\"dcr-10khgmf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1b267dg\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=973e5623ddf92d985a5adddf7b2cd31f 1240w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=9209927cb65cc4689a6444b950613223 1210w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=8f032d94e12ef380db15af630a2edf86 890w\" media=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=eca7ee490876f00f6900c0562b25baef 620w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=46db7835f3e57d64150bd2bf0569a453 605w,https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=9263f40525dc2bcdeee58c780423e9a2 445w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"dcr-1989ovb\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3cbc40ee22fe9f33a07b238c16ccfe54c7d4f795\/0_0_4580_3061\/master\/4580.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=8f032d94e12ef380db15af630a2edf86\" alt=\"Coco Gauff in action at Flushing Meadows.\" width=\"4580\" height=\"3061\" \/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"dcr-d5sshu\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-10d97ft\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-bjn8wh\">\n<figure id=\"939e4eb7-67aa-4de1-ad04-93d15c8395f8\" class=\"dcr-10khgmf\"><figcaption class=\"dcr-d5sshu\"><span class=\"dcr-nnoipb\">Coco Gauff in action at Flushing Meadows.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Stephens had been sidelined for 11 months by injury and was ranked 957th in the world a month before the 2017 US Open, only to survive a wildly unpredictable fortnight in which the top eight women\u2019s seeds were eliminated by the quarter-finals for the first time at any major tournament since the grand slams allowed professionals to compete with amateurs in 1968. That was enough for some critics to dismiss her surprise triumph as a fluke, but Stephens backed up her maiden slam with a formidable 2018 campaign that included the Miami title and a run to the French Open final while peaking at No 3 in the rankings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">Now 28, she has battled inconsistency all season, dropping to 66th in the world despite reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros and the third at Wimbledon. She entered Flushing Meadows with a modest singles record of 15 wins and 14 losses on the year, but came from behind in a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Madison Keys in the first round before Wednesday night\u2019s more straightforward affair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">In terms of style Stephens has always defied easy categorisation. She is not endowed with devastating power but is more than solid off both wings even if she favours the forehand for winners. Her speed is not blinding but the American remains one of the tour\u2019s best movers, quick off the mark and seemingly never out of position. No single element of the package grades as exceptional but, when everything is clicking, Stephens is as complete as it gets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">It won\u2019t get easier from here. Stephens will likely face the No 16 seed and 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber in the third round ahead of a potential date with Osaka in the round of 16. But there\u2019s no question that Stephens, who from a young age earned a reputation for playing her best on the biggest stages, feeds off the atmosphere at the site of her greatest triumph.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-z96mlc\">\u201cIt\u2019s so fun in there,\u201d Stephens said of Ashe. \u201cIt\u2019s like a good place, it\u2019s a happy place. I think I\u2019ve had a lot of good memories there. For me, it\u2019s a feel-good. I think being in this position, trying to work my way through the tournament, have tough matches, like it\u2019s nice to have that comfort, those moments to look back on. OK, I\u2019m comfortable here, I\u2019m happy here.\u201d<\/p>\n<h1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading\">Sloane Stephens<\/h1>\n<div id=\"bodyContent\" class=\"vector-body\">\n<div id=\"siteSub\" class=\"noprint\">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<\/div>\n<div id=\"contentSub\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"contentSub2\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"jump-to-nav\"><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"mw-jump-link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#mw-head\">Jump to navigation<\/a> <a class=\"mw-jump-link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#searchInput\">Jump to search<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"mw-content-text\" class=\"mw-body-content mw-content-ltr\" dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\n<table class=\"infobox vcard\">\n<caption class=\"infobox-title fn\">Sloane Stephens<\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-image\" colspan=\"2\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Stephens_WM17_(7)_(35347283294).jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/11\/Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg\/220px-Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/11\/Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg\/330px-Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/11\/Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg\/440px-Stephens_WM17_%287%29_%2835347283294%29.jpg 2x\" alt=\"Stephens WM17 (7) (35347283294).jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"331\" data-file-width=\"1937\" data-file-height=\"2910\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"infobox-caption\">Stephens at the <a title=\"2017 Wimbledon Championships\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_Wimbledon_Championships\">2017 Wimbledon Championships<\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Country\u00a0(sports)<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><span class=\"flagicon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbborder\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"23\" height=\"12\" data-file-width=\"1235\" data-file-height=\"650\" \/>\u00a0<\/span><a title=\"United States\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States\">United States<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Residence<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data label\"><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Fort Lauderdale\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fort_Lauderdale\">Fort Lauderdale<\/a>, <a title=\"Florida\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Florida\">Florida<\/a>, U.S.<sup id=\"cite_ref-CBSSports_1-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#cite_note-CBSSports-1\">[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Born<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">March 20, 1993<span class=\"noprint ForceAgeToShow\"> (age\u00a028)<\/span><sup id=\"cite_ref-wta-profile_2-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#cite_note-wta-profile-2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup><br \/>\n<a title=\"Plantation, Florida\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plantation,_Florida\">Plantation<\/a>, Florida, U.S.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Height<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">1.71\u00a0m (5\u00a0ft 7\u00a0in)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Turned\u00a0pro<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">2009<sup id=\"cite_ref-turned-pro_3-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#cite_note-turned-pro-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Plays<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">Right-handed (two-handed backhand)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Prize money<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">US$16,101,104<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Official\u00a0website<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><a class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/sloanestephens.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">sloanestephens.com<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Singles<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Career\u00a0record<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">313\u2013222 (58.5%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Career\u00a0titles<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Highest\u00a0ranking<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">No. 3 (16 July 2018)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Current\u00a0ranking<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">No. 66 (30 August 2021)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Grand Slam Singles results<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"Australian Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Open\">Australian\u00a0Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">SF (<a title=\"2013 Australian Open \u2013 Women's Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles\">2013<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"French Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_Open\">French\u00a0Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">F (<a title=\"2018 French Open \u2013 Women's Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles\">2018<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"The Championships, Wimbledon\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Championships,_Wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">QF (<a title=\"2013 Wimbledon Championships \u2013 Women's Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles\">2013<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"US Open (tennis)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/US_Open_(tennis)\">US Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><b>W<\/b> (<a title=\"2017 US Open \u2013 Women's Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles\">2017<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Other tournaments<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"WTA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/WTA_Finals\">Tour\u00a0Finals<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">F (<a title=\"2018 WTA Finals \u2013 Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_WTA_Finals_%E2%80%93_Singles\">2018<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"Tennis at the Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tennis_at_the_Summer_Olympics\">Olympic\u00a0Games<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">1R (<a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics \u2013 Women's Singles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tennis_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles\">2016<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Doubles<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Career\u00a0record<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">41\u201358 (41.4%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Career\u00a0titles<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Highest\u00a0ranking<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">No. 94 (24 October 2011)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\">Current\u00a0ranking<\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">No. 1048 (30 August 2021)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Grand Slam Doubles results<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"Australian Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Open\">Australian\u00a0Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">1R (<a title=\"2012 Australian Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2012<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"French Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/French_Open\">French\u00a0Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">1R (<a title=\"2012 French Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2012<\/a>, <a title=\"2013 French Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2013<\/a>, <a title=\"2014 French Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2014_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2014<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"The Championships, Wimbledon\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Championships,_Wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">2R (<a title=\"2017 Wimbledon Championships \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2017<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"US Open (tennis)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/US_Open_(tennis)\">US Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">1R (<a title=\"2009 US Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2009_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2009<\/a>, <a title=\"2010 US Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2010<\/a>, <a title=\"2011 US Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2011_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2011<\/a>, <a title=\"2012 US Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2012<\/a>, <a title=\"2017 US Open \u2013 Women's Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Doubles\">2017<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Mixed doubles<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"Australian Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Open\">Australian\u00a0Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">2R (<a title=\"2016 Australian Open \u2013 Mixed Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_Doubles\">2016<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"The Championships, Wimbledon\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Championships,_Wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">3R (<a title=\"2018 Wimbledon Championships \u2013 Mixed Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Mixed_Doubles\">2018<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a title=\"US Open (tennis)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/US_Open_(tennis)\">US Open<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\">2R (<a title=\"2008 US Open \u2013 Mixed Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2008_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_Doubles\">2008<\/a>, <a title=\"2012 US Open \u2013 Mixed Doubles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_Doubles\">2012<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\">Team competitions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Fed Cup\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fed_Cup\">Fed Cup<\/a><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><b>W<\/b> (<a title=\"2017 Fed Cup\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_Fed_Cup\">2017<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-below\" colspan=\"2\">Last updated on: 21:59, 30 August 2021 (UTC).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>Sloane Stephens<\/b> (born March 20, 1993) is an American professional <a title=\"Tennis\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tennis\">tennis<\/a> player. She achieved a career-best ranking of No. 3 in the world after Wimbledon in 2018. Stephens was the <a title=\"2017 US Open (tennis)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_US_Open_(tennis)\">2017 US Open<\/a> champion, and has won six WTA singles titles in total.<\/p>\n<p>Born to athletic parents with backgrounds in collegiate swimming and professional American football, Stephens was first introduced to tennis at the club across the street from her house in <a title=\"Fresno, California\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fresno,_California\">Fresno, California<\/a>. Her stepfather was a competitive recreational tennis player and served as her primary inspiration for beginning to play the sport. Stephens moved to Florida to train at a tennis academy, ultimately working with <a title=\"Nick Saviano\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nick_Saviano\">Nick Saviano<\/a> for many years. She developed into a promising junior player, reaching a career-high ITF junior ranking of world No. 5 and winning three out of four <a title=\"Grand Slam (tennis)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grand_Slam_(tennis)\">Grand Slam<\/a> girls&#8217; doubles titles in 2010 alongside her partner <a title=\"T\u00edmea Babos\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T%C3%ADmea_Babos\">T\u00edmea Babos<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While still just 19 years old, Stephens rose to prominence at the <a title=\"2013 Australian Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013_Australian_Open\">2013 Australian Open<\/a> with a semifinal run highlighted by an upset of then-world No. 3 <a title=\"Serena Williams\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Serena_Williams\">Serena Williams<\/a>. Although she climbed to as high as No. 11 towards the end of that year, she later regressed and stayed steadily ranked outside the top 25 through the end of 2015. At this point, Stephens switched to a new coach, <a title=\"Kamau Murray\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kamau_Murray\">Kamau Murray<\/a>, under whom she returned to an elite level and won three WTA titles in the first half of 2016. Her successful year was then cut short by a foot injury that kept her sidelined for eleven months.<\/p>\n<p>She returned from injury in the middle of 2017 and won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in just her fifth tournament back. She was also awarded <a title=\"WTA Comeback Player of the Year\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/WTA_Comeback_Player_of_the_Year\">WTA Comeback Player of the Year<\/a> for her successful season. In 2018, Stephens continued her success by winning her first <a title=\"WTA Premier tournaments\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/WTA_Premier_tournaments\">Premier Mandatory<\/a> title at the <a title=\"2018 Miami Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_Miami_Open\">Miami Open<\/a>, reaching a second Grand Slam singles final at the <a title=\"2018 French Open\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_French_Open\">French Open<\/a>, entering the top 10 for the first time, and finishing runner-up at the <a title=\"2018 WTA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_WTA_Finals\">WTA Finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Stephens was born on March 20, 1993 in <a title=\"Plantation, Florida\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plantation,_Florida\">Plantation, Florida<\/a> to <a title=\"Sybil Smith\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sybil_Smith\">Sybil Smith<\/a> and <a title=\"John Stephens (American football)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Stephens_(American_football)\">John Stephens<\/a>, both of whom were accomplished athletes. Her mother was the first <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"African-American\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African-American\">African-American<\/a> woman to be named a first-team All-American swimmer in Division I history. She is enshrined in the <a title=\"Boston University\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boston_University\">Boston University<\/a> Athletic Hall of Fame and recognized as the greatest swimmer in the history of the university.<sup id=\"cite_ref-smith-hof_4-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup> Stephens&#8217;s father was a <a title=\"Pro Bowl\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pro_Bowl\">Pro Bowl<\/a> running back for the <a title=\"New England Patriots\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_England_Patriots\">New England Patriots<\/a> in the <a title=\"National Football League\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Football_League\">National Football League<\/a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-nyt-father_5-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sloane_Stephens#cite_note-nyt-father-5\">[5]<\/a><\/sup> Pro Football Hall of Famer <a title=\"Raymond Berry\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raymond_Berry\">Raymond Berry<\/a> regarded him as the best athlete he had ever seen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sloane Stephens wins all-American US Open clash with Coco Gauff Stephens beats 21st seed 6-4, 6-2 to reach third round Sloane Stephens returns a shot against Coco Gauff during their US Open second-round match on Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows. &nbsp; Four years ago, Sloane Stephens made a stunning run to the US Open title [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2405,11,8,1314,2432,1456,1156,13,2404,2406,14,12,7,17,9,10],"tags":[4719,4717,2493,4715,4718,4716],"class_list":["post-22245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-gamers","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-health","category-high-school-sports","category-mbs-hss","category-most-commented","category-scitech","category-sports","category-tennis","category-us","category-world","tag-4719","tag-1993-age-282-plantation","tag-florida","tag-sloane-stephensstephens-wm17-7-35347283294-jpg-stephens-at-the-2017-wimbledon-championships-country-sports-united-states-residence-fort-lauderdale","tag-u-s-height-1-71-m-5-ft-7-in-turned-pro-20093-plays-right-handed-two-handed-backhand-prize-money-us16","tag-u-s-1-born-march-20","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}