*We have to admit that up until this weekend we didn’t have any thoughts about new tennis star/champ Sloane Stephens one way or the other.
But now that she’s come into sudden prominence by winning the US Open on Saturday, we have a new found appreciation for her. We are especially taken with her humbleness and sense of humor when she was awarded her winning check for $3.7 million dollars. Her reactions were priceless and a crack up.
Stephens was all smiles and shock as she was handed her check for the win. She looked very surprised when they announced the amount, and she could be heard saying, “Wow! That’s a lot of money!”
In case you missed it, Stephens, 24, is the 2017 U.S. Open women singles champion after beating Madison Keys two sets 6-3, 6-0. It was her first major final.
Here’s how she got to where she is. On July 31, Stephens’ WTA ranking was 957th. Now, after winning the US Open, she is now ranked # 17, just six weeks later. Wow!
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At the US Open ceremony, Stephens teared up as she hugged and thanked her mom. She later recalled a coach telling her mother she’d “be lucky if I was a Division II player and I got a scholarship” when she was just 11-years-old. She also thanked her mother for believing in her and encouraged other mothers to do the same.
Before her US Open win, Stephens hadn’t been doing too shabby financially. In seven years on tour, the Plantation, Florida native made $4,519,709 before getting her US Open winning $3.7 million check on Saturday, according to ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell.
During the press conference following the match, Stephens was asked if the win gives her the hunger to win another Slam. Stephens responded:
“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 then I don’t know what will.”
Bringing you a quick laugh ?? this #SundayMorning. #IveBeenInspiredTo be @SloaneStephens! Sloan Stephens is me! Congrats champ??? pic.twitter.com/oyacSP6RgV
— Beairshelle Edmé (@BeairshelleWNCN) September 10, 2017
We are seriously diggin’ on this chick.
