Sloane Stephens eyes Christmas to spend US Open cash

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Sloane Stephens is the comeback queen.

The US Open women's tennis champion captured the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award by jumping more than 900 spots in the world rankings in two months this year on her return from a foot injury in 2016.

On the back of her first grand slam title in September, the 24-year-old is going to compete in the WTA’s Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China, for the first time in her career.

When asked whether winning a grand slam made her hungry to win another title, her response sent the crowd into laughter. She gave a straightforward answer of how much money she’d won, and said that would be her motivation to win more – “of course girl, did you see that check?!” were her exact words.

Sloane Stephens reacting after receiving her winning US Open women's singles check /VCG photo

In an exclusive interview with CGTN’s Sports Scene, she elaborated on why she made those remarks.

“That was a lot of money, I didn't know that’s how much money you won when you win the US open," she said. "Obviously, I didn’t play for the whole year, so I didn't realize that the prize money of winning a Grand Slam is going up and up and up. I knew that it was, but I didn’t really pay attention to it.

"So when she said 3.7 million, I was like ‘ Oh My God’. It was quite incredible. Maddie (runner-up Madison Keys) made 1.8 (million) or something, it was a lot of money and definitely keeps the lights on. So, I wouldn't say it was a bad day for either one of us.”

When asked if she had spent any of the money, she said that the holidays will be the time to splash.

“I literally have not spend a dime," she said. "I just can’t really think of anything to get. Everything that I thought I wanted, I don’t want that anymore. I’m sure around Christmastime, I’ll want some gifts or presents, but until then not really anything.”