23/01/2013 09:49 CEST - AO 13 INTERVISTE
S. STEPHENS/S. Williams
3-6 7-5 6-4
Q. You weren't able to express your emotions in the court earlier. Maybe you can express them now after a few minutes after you won.
SLOANE STEPHENS: I don't know. Yeah, I don't know how I feel. It's still strange. I talked to my grandparents after. My grandma was just like, Oh, good job. They want to talk about my coach more than they want to talk about the actual match.
I listened to them and they calmed me down a little bit, so it was good.
Q. What did you say to her at the net at the end of the match?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Good match; well played. I say the same thing every time, so... Good match, well played.
She just said, Good match. I think she said the same thing, yeah. I don't even remember, honestly.
Q. How did you keep your focus when she was off court? Had you experienced that sort of thing? How did you keep your focus?
SLOANE STEPHENS: Uhm, I just I mean, I kind of just was hanging out. Just chillax and gave me a little break. I don't know.
I mean, I've gotten it a lot recently. In the last three weeks it's happened to me a lot, so I was prepared. I kind of like go through like some things in my head and then look and see what my coach is doing. And he was eating a chicken sandwich when that happened.
So, I mean, kind of just little things. But it doesn't really bother me as much anymore.
Q. This time last year you were calling her a tennis god and you hadn't established a relationship with her. Today you beat the tennis god. Talk about your mental improvement and ability.
SLOANE STEPHENS: I definitely improved a lot. I mean, definitely last year it was all new to me and it was just kind of a new experience.
Like I said last or even in Brisbane. It was the first time, so it was tough. But once you get by the first time you do anything it's tricky. I think I was kind of just ready to play.
Of course, I've improved a lot and worked really hard on my fitness and all that other stuff. So I was definitely grateful that the year that has gone by has been a good one.