Sloane Stephens has become just the second unranked player to win the US Open since computer rankings began in November 1975. The first was Kim Clijsters from Belgium in 2009.
It was a first grand slam final for the 24-year-old American, who needed just 61 minutes to post a 6-3, 6-0 victory.
So, who is Sloane Stephens?
1. Stephens was born in Plantation, Florida and her athleticism is no surprise given her genes. She is the daughter of swimmer Sybil Smith and professional American football player John Stephens.
Her father left the family home when she was a toddler but they were reconciled many years later before he was killed in a car accident in 2009.
2. Stephens was introduced to tennis aged nine by her mother and stepfather, Sheldon Farrell, who died of cancer when she was 14.
She shared a hugely emotional hug with Smith immediately after the match and then paid tribute to her, saying: “I think parents don’t get enough credit. When I was 11 years old, my mom took me to a tennis academy. One of the directors there told my mom that I’d be lucky if I was a Division II player and I got a scholarship.”
“She’s not said one word to me, not spoken to me, not said hi, not looked my way, not been in the same room with me since I played her in Australia,” Stephens said. “They think she’s so friendly and she’s so this and she’s so that – no, that’s not reality.” Stephens later apologised and they have since patched things up.
There are NO words to describe how proud and how happy I am for @Madison_Keys keys and @SloaneStephens for making the US open finals.
These amazing women continue to change the game and bring excellence, power, finesse and change to tennis.
4. Prior to arriving in New York, the 24-year-old’s 2017 earnings stood at $310,000 and her career earnings at $4.5 million, but that now stands at over $8m after she collected a $3.7m winners cheque. She also stands to make millions more in endorsement deals as a result of her triumph.
Great reaction from @SloaneStephens when they announced she was going to receive a Winner’s Check for $3.7M!
However, Stephens’ wallet may be a little lighter now.
Keys suggested the newly-minted grand slam champion would be buying drinks to console her at a celebration party planned in New York later in the evening.
“Yes, (I’ll be buying) a lot of them, apparently,” Stephens said with a smile.
5. Stephens’ boyfriend is USA football international Jozy Altidore, who she met at school. Altidore was unable to be at the final because he was playing for Toronto FC in the MLS but his mother shouted the result to him from the stands during the first half. It was a good day all round for the couple, with Altidore scoring twice in a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.
“I don’t think there’s been a more positive person in my corner that I’ve had,’ Stephens told The New York Times of Altidore.
“When I was on the peg leg, I was with him, and I would always make fun of myself and he’d make fun of me. But he kept it really light for me, so I was never too sad.
6. Stephens says she is happiest away from the court when she is lying in bed in her pyjamas with the fire and the TV on eating takeaway.
Her current favourite show is The Blacklist and she had to keep her focus when James Spader, one of the stars of the show, was picked out on the big screen in the stands during the final.
7. At 83 in the rankings, Stephens is the fifth lowest-ranked woman to win a slam title in the Open era and her ranking will now soar to 17.
In January a nagging foot injury forced her to undergo surgery and left her unable to walk for 16 weeks.
She returned at Wimbledon two months ago and lost in the first round, her ranking slumping to 957. Stephens then lost in the first round in Washington.
Fifteen wins out of 17 matches later, she walked off Arthur Ashe Stadium as tennis’ newest grand slam champion and $3.7 million richer.
