For the record, Sloane Stephens was not cheering in celebration when Serena Williams lost. She was making fun of Ana Ivanovic’s coaches.
Stephens was captured on camera, watching Williams’ surprise upset loss in the fourth round of the Australian Open over the weekend. With a big smile, Stephens raised both arms as if to high-five the person next to her.
Or so it seemed to many as the video made the rounds on social media.
On Monday, the matter was raised at Sloane’s post-match news conference after she lost her fourth round match to Victoria Azarenka.
“We were just having some fun,” said Stephens, denying that she was cheering over Williams’ loss.
“At the end of the match, Ivanovic’s coaches pretty much gave each other head butts and kisses,” said Stephens. “I thought that was the funniest thing ever because I have never seen a more excited head butt-kiss at the end of a match.”
She was watching the match in the players’ lounge, seated next to her hitting partner, Andrew Fitzpatrick.
“Andrew and I were like, ‘Oh my God.’ We were going to do the same thing. We were so excited,” she said. “We had a lot of time on our hands obviously.”
