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The American was touted as one of the next big things when she upset Serena Williams at 19. Four years later, she lifted the US Open trophy.
But Stephens has struggled to find consistency in recent years and has now claimed there’s “nothing wrong” with not being Djokovic.
The American was touted as one of the next big things when she upset Serena Williams at 19. Four years later, she lifted the US Open trophy.
But Stephens has struggled to find consistency in recent years and has now claimed there’s “nothing wrong” with not being Djokovic
Now sitting at No. 75 in the world, the American got brutally honest about her career as she compared herself to the best in the game, explaining why their success wasn’t for her.
“There’s nothing wrong with not being Novak. Everyone can’t be No. 1 in the world,” Stephens said on Tennis Insider Club, a podcast created by fellow former top 10 star
“I think Iga [Swiatek]’s great, she’s No. 1 in the world but I do not want that job. There are certain people who thrive in that, but that’s what makes our sport so unique.”
When Stephens made her debut as a youngster, many predicted she would rise to the top of the game. When she made it into the top 100, she was only 18. Stephens lost to Serena Williams in Brisbane at the start of 2013.
The teenager may one day be “the best in the world,” according to the 23-time Major winner. Williams’ 20-match winning streak came to an end a few weeks later when 19-year-old Stephens shocked her in the Australian Open quarterfinal.
Stephens didn’t complete a Grand Slam for a couple more years. After recovering from foot surgery for a year, she went on to win the 2017 US Open.
Since her run to the WTA Finals final, the former world No. 3 has battled with her form.
Many people believed Stephens would become the best player in the game when she made her debut as a young child. She was just eighteen when she broke into the top 100. At the beginning of 2013, Stephens lost to Serena Williams in Brisbane.
The 23-time Major winner said the adolescent might be “the best in the world” someday. A few weeks later, 19-year-old Stephens upset Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinal, ending her 20-match winning streak.
It took Stephens a few more years to finish the Grand Slam. She won the 2017 US Open after a year of recuperating from foot surgery.
The former world No. 3 has fought since her run to the WTA Finals final.
Explaining how she kept herself motivated, Stephens continued: “This year, I’ve wanted to go to new places and see new things, and do new stuff.
“So, this year, I said, ‘I want to make it Asia so I can see the Great Wall.’ And I feel like that’s helped me more, to have something to look forward to.
“If you were at a regular desk job for 12 years, you would think it’s terrible. For tennis players, yes, we’re so lucky and fortunate to be able to travel and do all these amazing things, but it’s literally the same tournaments, the same cities. You’ve got to make it fun and keep it exciting.”
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