"Just because Serena Williams has been great, that has nothing to do with me" - When Sloane Stephens turned down comparisons to American great
Sloane Stephens once brushed aside comparisons to tennis legend Serena Williams.
Stephens made these remarks before the 2019 US Open, where she faced a disappointing first-round loss to Russia's Anna Kalinskaya. The American was aiming for her second title at the tournament, having clinched her first Grand Slam there in 2017.
In an interview with Essence Magazine, Stephens was questioned about her contentious relationship with Williams. While she lauded the 23-time Major champion's accomplishments, she emphasized her desire not to be compared to her.
"Just because Serena [Williams] has been great and done all the things she's done, that has nothing to do with me. I'm my own person. I've done what I've done," Stephens said.
"I'm proud of my accomplishments. I'm trying to do this in this lane, and it has nothing to do with her. Whatever she does is amazing. She's done so much for the sport," she added.
"They think Serena Williams is so friendly and she's so this and that, no, that's not reality" - Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams have made controversial statements about each other over the years. Stephens didn't mince words when discussing her compatriot a few months after defeating her in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Australian Open.
Stephens revealed that Williams hadn't interacted with her or even been in the same room as her since their clash in Melbourne, and unfollowed her on X (formerly Twitter). These shocked the former US Open champion, especially considering that Williams had said nice things about her before that.
"She [Serena Williams] has 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 told ESPN. "And that should tell everyone something. How she went from saying all these nice things about me to unfollowing me on Twitter."
The 31-year-old added:
"Like, seriously! People should know. They think she's so friendly and she's so this and she's so that -- no, that's not reality! You don't unfollow someone on Twitter, delete them off of BlackBerry Messenger. I mean, what for? Why?"
Stephens and Williams met seven times on the WTA Tour, with the latter holding a 6-1 head-to-head advantage. Their last encounter took place in the third round of the 2020 US Open, where the 23-time Grand Slam champion came out on top.