Sloane Stephens says she was not celebrating Serena Williams’ defeat

Sloane Stephens says that despite what everyone assumed, she was not cheering the fact that Serena Williams lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open and complained that the footage shot of her at the end of Williams’ match was intrusive.

Stephens had been shown on television smiling and raising her arms when Williams lost to Ana Ivanovic on Sunday. But all was not what it seemed. She said she was copying the over-the-top reactions of Ivanovic’s support team. On Monday, footage (which you can see above) was shown that seemed to back up her claim.

“At the end of the match, Ivanovic’s coaches pretty much gave each other head butts and kisses, and I thought that was the funniest thing ever,” Stephens said. “I have never seen a more excited head butt/kiss at the end of the match. Then of course they said I’m cheering against Serena, which had nothing to do with it. We were just having some fun.”

Stephens then complained that the footage was intrusive.

“I was like ‘were they recording that?’ Yeah, it’s a little much. Then for them to put it on TV was a little extra. It is what it is. I don’t think it was that big a deal. Move on. Who cares?”

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