SWAGGER ON—THE ADVENTURES OF SLOANE STEPHENS: There’s something about Sloane Stephens.
Call it swagger or ‘tude, the 22-year old has no shortage of self-worth. LA proud, she likes to see her picture on billboards and magazine covers. She sizzles on runways. As a teen newbie in Australia in 2013, she took on Serena Williams verbally in Australia and beat her on court en route to a heady No. 13 ranking.
The Californian was said to be the future of American tennis. She told IT it would be absurd if she didn’t win the French Open within a decade. Later she didn’t hesitate to throw her former coach, Paul Annacone, under the techno bus, saying he didn’t “know what he was doing … It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t know how to put on wi-fi or anything. So in Australia he had like a $2,000 phone bill…I’m like, that is not ideal…He’s old, so it’s tough…He’s like ‘What’s the password?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, help him.’”
Then there was the time she blasted Vika Azarenka in the groin with a shot, which prompted one writer to say, “Jimmy Connors would call that a bullseye.”
But it was none other than Connors’s son Brett who expressed some unsparing conventional wisdom: “She has the the arrogance and whininess of a highly touted ‘Next American Great.’ Now all she has to do is win something.”
Yes, Sloane likes the big stage and consistently goes deep into majors. Six times she’s reached at least the fourth round at Slams. But at boring old circuit matches, far from the spotlight, she’s often faltered. Not once has she reached the final of a WTA tourney. And recently, even at majors, she’s stumbled. In the last three Slams she won just one match. To make matters worse, she suffered a wrist injury after last year’s US Open.
But all was not bleak. She reconnected with one of the best coaches in the game, Nick Saviano, and reached the quarters in Miami, the semis in Strasbourg, and, in the first round of the French Open drew sister Venus Williams instead of Serena, whom she’s already lost to twice this year. Venus is not only the oldest player on the WTA Tour, she’s averse to clay and hasn’t reached the third round in Paris in five years.
So today, Sloane forgot her recent struggles, her lowly No. 41 ranking, and the fact that Venus has won seven Slams and was seeded No. 15. Instead, Stephens listened to her coach’s advice and focused on the fun of tennis and flashed much of the quick-twitch power and athleticism that dazzled us years ago. There was her marvelous first step, her lightning speed, her whiplash forehand and some impressive come-from-behind confidence. Venus suffered 30 unforced errors and swiftly fell 7-5, 6-1.
Now, is Sloane ready to rise again?
Maybe.
Again there are whispers of her being the next great thing. But not so fast. Even if she wins a couple more matches in Paris, Ms. Stephens could well face another Williams: one named Serena who, the last time we checked, is a pretty good player.
THE BUZZ
‘TIS FUN TO BLOW THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION: Broadcaster Paul Annacone said, “it is much more fun to blow things out of proportion.” But Frances Tiafoe, the most hyped American in years, didn’t follow the script. The first 17-year-old American man in Roland Garros since Michael Chang won the title in 1989 fell to Slovokia’s 36th-ranked Martin Klizan on a tiny back court. Tiafoe, who is now coached by the no-nonsense Jose Higueras, drew much comment. Annnacone said, “At this point he is going from adolescent tennis to pro tennis.” Martina Navratilova asserted that “the physical follows the mental,” that Tiafoe must first work on his mental game, that he needs to play junior tennis. “He has absolutely nothing to lose,” she noted.
Tiafoe said the experience was “definitely different, walking around, seeing the greats in the locker room.” The product of Maryland’s Junior Tennis Champions Center added, “It’s great. Definitely fun. I think I deserve to be there.”
Tiafoe’s foe Klizan said the kid had talent, but wasn’t sure whether he would be a top ten or a top 100 player. Tiafoe simply said, “I need to get a lot better.”
TOUGH TIMES FOR CIVILITY: Weeks ago Genie Bouchard refused to shake hands with her Fed Cup foe in Montreal. Then Jurgen Melzer suffered a bad sportsmanship lapse in Geneva. Yesterday, a fan spinted all the way across Courte Centrale to ask Federer for a selfie. Then today, after her loss, Venus Williams refused to do her required press conference, and after her win, Maria Sharapova declined to do an on-court interview. When the courtside announcer told the crowd that the Russian would not be talking to them because she wanted to change, the throng jeered. Later, Sharapova said their reaction was “completely understandable.”
A year ago Maria was sick before the French Open. This year the defending champion is fighting a cold. Writer Ben Rothenberg suggested that Maria sounds “odd today. Yelpier than usual, like a Bichon Frise when the postman comes.” Maria confided, “Unless I’m really in my coffin, I’m going to be out there.”
BETTING TIP OF THE DAY: When asked to comment on the winning streak of the recently wed Andy Murray, Jim Courier said, “I put it all down to marriage.” If that’s the case, folks, put your money on David Ferrer next December. In November, the Spaniard will be marrying his long-time girlfriend Marta Tornel.
SHOCKING COMMENTARY: After the young powerhouse Nick Kyrgios and Croatian teen Borna Coric both advanced, the New York Times’ Christopher Claredy tweeted, “Am thinking the best next-generation matchup is going to be Kyrgios vs Coric. Shock and awe vs. Shock absorbed.”
SAY IT ISN’T SO: Americans have lost nine of their first ten matches … Former Wimbledon finalist Aga Radwanska lost to Annika Beck 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 after defeating Beck 6-0, 6-0 in their previous match. Commentator Nick Lester suggested, “This sport is so much about confidence. Radwanska is too good a player not to be in the top ten.”
THE DEBATE CONTINUES: Many still wonder how come Rafa Nadal was seeded No. 6. The nine-time French Open champ is 66-1 at Roland Garros, a master in five-set matches, and would be heavily favored if he faced No. 4 seed Tomas Berdych.
