Stephens tops Keys in US Open final for 1st Grand Slam title

US Open winner Sloane Stephens of the United States consoles Madison Keys of the United States after their women's final in New York, Sept 9, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Keys acknowledged afterward it was all a bit much for her, and it showed: She wound up with 30 unforced errors.

"I definitely think my play today came down to nerves and all of that," she said, "and I just don't think I handled the occasion perfectly."Stephens, meanwhile, made only six unforced errors.

Told of that number by a reporter during her engaging news conference, filled with quips and smiles, Stephens slapped a palm on the table in front her, then snapped her fingers and said: "Shut the front door. I don't think that's ever happened to me before. Oh, my God. That's a stat."Still, she had dealt with jitters beforehand, too.

Murray went to Stephens' hotel room Friday night to check on her, using as an excuse for the visit that he needed to deliver some clean laundry. This is how he said the conversation went:Stephens: "You wanted to see if I was nervous."Murray: "Yeah."Stephens: "I am.""We just laughed and chuckled and talked about it for about 25 minutes, and after that, it was all good," Murray said. "I mean, probably she was still nervous but, you know, at least give her a chance to get it out."Stephens' late father, John Stephens, was the 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New England Patriots. And her mother, Sybil Smith, was Boston University's first All-American in women's swimming. In addition to being a super athlete, Stephens seems to thrive in the spotlight: She's now 5-0 in tournament finals.

A year ago, she sat out the US Open altogether because of her foot problem.

In 2017, her season debut came at Wimbledon in July, when she lost in the first round. Lost her next match, too, in Washington.

Since then, she has gone 15-2. Her ranking, up to 83rd at the start of the US Open, will climb to No. 17 on Monday. Oh, and, don't forget: She is now, and forever will be, a Grand Slam champion.