LAST ONE STANDING IN PARIS @ THE FRENCH OPEN BY CHERYL JONES

Written by: Staff on 31st May 2014

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

LAST ONE STANDING IN PARIS @ THE FRENCH OPEN BY CHERYL JONES

epa04233452 Sloane Stephens of USA celebrates a point against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during their third round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

There is one American woman still standing in the singles competition in Paris. (Actually, she is probably sitting, since it is evening and she played hard earlier today.) No surprise – it’s Sloane Stephens. She has an interesting back-story and of late has been outperforming much more highly ranked players in slams. There is something about a massive venue that seems to light her internal flame. Usually that is known as the “fire in the belly” syndrome. It is always a plus for any competitor, anywhere, in any sport. Actually, it is somewhat like the flame in a gas fireplace that goes on and off with the flick of a switch. It has been in the “on” position here in Paris.

More than twelve years ago, I had a conversation with Jennifer Capriati that related to the FIB syndrome. It’s not something one can purchase. It has to come with the package. It’s inside and it’s directional and the direction is always up. It’s an internal desire to be on top. It’s something special that is amorphous and it’s either there or it’s not. Stephens seems to have it most of the time; but not always. Capriati surprised me with her clarity and over the years, I have seen just what she was talking about. All the skill and athleticism doesn’t guarantee that the fire will be there to carry an athlete. That FIB will be the key, more often than not.

Stephens is 21 this year and it is her fourth main draw appearance in the event and from the looks of things there is more than being a good athlete involved. She will be making her third appearance in the Round of 16.

Today’s match was a repeat of one that was contested in 2012, against Ekaterina Makarova. The outcome was the same today as it was then. She came away with the “W”. After the dust settled, the score was 6-3, 6-4, just a tad better than that previous meeting here two years ago, where she triumphed, (6-3, 7-6) and moved to the Round of 16 then.

She spoke after the match about her chances of gaining a place in yet the next round, which is the Quarterfinals. She was candid about what she thought were her reasons for the superlative play in Paris. (Actually she has advanced to the Round of 16 in the last six majors and people wanted to know her secret, since she has the most active streak of anyone on the women’s tour.) “Yeah, it’s a great thing. If I knew, I would capitalize on it. I would do it every week. I would make the most of it. But, I guess it’s all just a learning experience.”

What she’d like to learn is how to transfer that kind of success to the whole of the tour. Later she spoke about how the regular tour Sloane would fare with the Slam Sloane on the opposite side of the net. She said, “I think it would be 2-2, duh.” Well, I wouldn’t agree. The Sloane that has been in competition here isn’t the same one who sometimes appears to take a mini-vacation in her mind midway through a match.

Lately, it has been all business for the young woman who lives in Florida but spends ample time in Southern California. Her ranking has risen and fallen like a quirky tide. Now she is ranked 19, but at one point in October of 2013, she came in at 11. She’s a hard worker whom I first met when she was in junior competition here at Roland Garros.

There was a spring in her step and a sparkle in her eye. It was just something that separated her from the other teens. Her mother was there to urge her on. That seemed right for a 17 year old who hadn’t found her game quite yet. At the US Open, she was in competition and word came that her father who was dying of a rare bone disease was killed in an automobile accident near his home in Louisiana.

She had just begun a connection with the man whom she had hardly known during the early years of her life. (Her parents had divorced when she was a wee tot.) She had lived with her mother, Sybil Smith, and stepfather for as long as she could remember. Her stepfather had passed away a few years before, and now her biological father. John Stephens had played professional football for the New England Patriots and had seemed uninterested in pursuing a relationship with Sloane until he was advised of the seriousness of his health issues. Then, they began a long distance catch-up liaison that became a connection in real time. She was devastated with news of his death. The US Open powers that be allowed her to attend his funeral and return the following day to the competition. She was able to say a goodbye to a father she barely knew.

Her resiliency has been remarkable. Even though she lost that next match in New York, she has spent the remainder of the past five years working toward goals that have moved her into a very favorable position in a sport that requires a constant “fire in the belly”. She is working to keep the cordwood handy so that the fire burns all the time and not just at major tournaments. Next week will give her another opportunity to use the bellows to stoke that fire when she meets Simona Halep, the Romanian woman who is ranked 4 in the world of women’s tennis.

Topics: Cheryl Jones, French Open, Roland Garros, Sloane Stephens, Tennis, Tennis News

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

May 31, 2014 at 12:45 pm

LAST ONE STANDING IN PARIS @ THE FRENCH OPEN BY CHERYL JONES – http://t.co/h7rKtrB8bV @sloanetweets #RG14 #FrenchOpen #tennis @rolandgarros