If she wasn’t preparing to meet third seed Serena Williams at a Brisbane International quarterfinal, American Sloane Stephens would more than likely be spending time at a funeral home.
he up-and-coming 19-year-old, who cracked the top 40 for the first time in 2012, said if she hadn’t taken tennis as a career path she would probably be working as an embalmer at the family business.
We found out a little more about the promising youngster as she answered 10 questions with brisbaneinternational.com.au
What is your New Years resolution?
To continue to not drink soda and to stay healthy.
What music is currently on your iPod?
Lauren Hill, Pink – I love her, Rhianna, Beyonce – all those people.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Hawaii, Maui.
If you weren’t a tennis player, what do you think you’d be doing?
An embalmer. My family has a funeral home, so I’ve grown up around dead people. I always end up scaring my friends, I tell them there are no bodies anywhere and then we go in the freezer and close the door and there’s like 15 bodies and they’re all like ‘aarghh’.
What is your avourite food?
Grandma’s macaroni and cheese.
How do you relax away from tennis?
Hang out with my friends.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
Probably my mum. Just helping me stay focused and always travelling with me a lot, being a friend and just supporting me.
As a kid, which tennis player did you idolise?
Kim Clijsters. She’s really awesome to watch. When I actually met her, she was the literally the sweetest person in the world. She was the first tennis player that I met, so I just fell in love. I still love her. My mum has a picture of us together and I look terrible.
Do you have any superstitions before a match?
Nope (laughs).
If we had a look in your bag, what would we find apart from tennis gear?
Nailpolish, lipstick, nail clippers, tweezers, eyeliner all kinds of stuff – like a purse.