NEW YORK — Sloane Stephens, the 24-year-old American who made a splash at the 2013 Australian Open, saw it turn to ripples and then smaller ripples and then the silence of an 11-month absence, completed a mind-boggling five-week rise Saturday. She became a U.S. Open champion when she played her first Grand Slam final as if it were her 10th: with a steadiness that verged on airtightness.
As Stephens combed her way through her 6-3, 6-0 win over fellow American and dear friend Madison Keys in Arthur Ashe Stadium, it became a game within the game just to observe a single statistic: unforced errors. Midway through the second set, Stephens had three, Keys 25. The numbers ended on six and 30, and they demonstrated how Stephens ignored the circumstances to access her utmost form of demanding defense, while Keys couldn’t do the same to pursue her customary attack.
“There’s no word to describe how I got here,” Stephens said.
With baby-mama Serena Williams sidelined Sloane plowed through a talented women’s field, including Serena’s sis, to take the U.S. Open 6-3, 6-0.
She may not be able to describe how she won, but has a pretty descriptive look for her $3.7 million dollar winning check!