ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2022

Sloane Stephens

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/S. Stephens

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: So Sloane, you reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, how did you determine, what do you take with you?

SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, lots of positives. Obviously my eighth time making the second week here, which is really, really nice. Unfortunate day today but I think a lot of positives to take from here, considering that I didn't win a clay court match until getting here and then making the quarters, so I think it's a good step in the right direction.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What went wrong for you today on court? Were you stressed or what happened?

SLOANE STEPHENS: No, I think Coco played a good match. Obviously wasn't my best day, but I think she played a full, complete match and sometimes you just have those days and it was her time and that's really it.

Q. You had played her at the US Open last year, how much of a difference does the surface between that match and this match make?

SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, I mean obviously the conditions here were different than the US Open. We played a night match there. Courts are a little, they're slow there too. Today the clay played a little bit faster.

Yeah, it was a bit different, but I think in general, like I said, I thought she played a good match.

Q. Has her forehand progressed since then? Did it feel any different to you today?

SLOANE STEPHENS: I mean, I guess. I mean, like I said, I thought she played a good match and, yeah, her forehand's obviously a good shot. So, I mean, I guess, yeah.

Q. I'm trying to understand, since she's doing pretty well since two years, but then she wasn't progressing so much on the slams and now she's in the semifinal. I wonder if you, playing against her, you did realize that she made some progress that you can talk about or more or less you think your defeat depends more on a day that wasn't the best of yours?

SLOANE STEPHENS: No, I think obviously she's worked really hard to get to this position. And to make the semifinals of a slam she's obviously earned it and played some really good tennis.

Yes, I would have liked to play better today, but that doesn't take anything away from the work that she's put in, obviously, to reach this point. That's just kind of how it happens sometimes and, yeah.

Q. I'm sorry if I insist to find out something about her, because she's playing an Italian to the next round, Martina Trevisan. So I would like, if possible, to write few lines about also Coco Gauff to say, well, she's better or not much better or what she was and she plays decent or better, I don't know.

SLOANE STEPHENS: Okay, well I would say that Coco and I, no, no, it's okay. I definitely wouldn't tell you that, but I think in general she is a very well-rounded player, she obviously has worked really hard to get to this point to get to a semifinal.

She's had really great results, so has Trevisan, but I think just in general she has improved a lot, she's progressed, she's won a lot of matches in a lot of different tournaments to get to where she is and you can't take that away from her.

Q. About four years ago I asked you randomly to name a player that nobody has heard of in the world at large to keep an eye on. You named Coco back then. I'm wondering if you can remember what might have stood out to you when you first saw her and do you remember when maybe she first came on your radar?

SLOANE STEPHENS: Yeah, so anyways I would say, obviously I've known Coco since she was about 10 years old. And obviously we had the same coach and I saw her a lot, we've had a lot of interaction, I've known her for a long time.

I think she's always had a good game. She's super athletic, she's super confident, she's a great player. And I think obviously you can see someone and look at them and watch them and tell they have whatever it takes to be a top player.

I think Coco's always been a great player, she has a great attitude and, yeah, I think that's probably why I named her. And obviously one of the few players that I'm very close with so, yeah.

Q. After tomorrow who is the favorite between Gauff and Trevisan?

SLOANE STEPHENS: Well, I'm sorry, but it's not Trevisan. Not my favorite.