Famous? People might think I'm a homeless person, says US Open champ Stephens

AFP  |  Paris 

champion claims she is so unfazed by being a champion that people could mistake her for a homeless person.

The 25-year-old American stunned the sport -- as well as herself -- last year when she raced to victory in

It came with her ranking at a lowly 83, just 69 days after returning from an 11-month lay-off and six weeks since her ranking had plummeted to 957.

That shock, however, hasn't gone to the who on Saturday reached fourth round for a fifth time with a 4-6, 6-1, 8-6 win over of

"I normally look like -- I wouldn't say a homeless person -- but I look like not very presentable," she explained.

"Not on purpose, but I'm just very, like, sweats -- like I probably have four pairs of these sweats and I just rotate them.

"So I'm that girl. I'm not really recognisable because I always have a hat on and I look kind of crazy. No one approaches me."

The charismatic Stephens, at her highest seeding of 10 at a Slam, admits she is becoming a fan of Paris, even if finding the perfect ice cream is becoming a chore.

She discovered to her horror this week that her favourite ice cream parlour on the Champs Elysees has been supplanted by a burger joint.

"That is so disrespectful," she joked.

"So I have been really upset about that. But I have found one in a mall, like, across the street, so I have been able to regroup with that." What tops Stephens's dream list of ice creams in

"Macadamia nut brittle..and do you know they only make that in They don't have that in the "

Away from the joking, Stephens feels she has a point to prove at having been handed a series of testing missions at in recent years.

In 2013, she lost in the fourth round to eventual runner-up Maria Sharapova, against runner-up in 2014 and, a year later, at the same stage to champion

She is also playing free after an absence of 11 months from the middle of 2016 to last year had threatened to torpedo her career.

This year she won her first level title at Miami, maintaining her perfect record in finals which now stands at 6-0.

"I'd say my movement," she explained when asked what improvements she's noticed in her game since her return.

"Obviously having foot surgery, that was, like, my biggest concern. But I think that I have done really well to kind of pick up my feet a little bit. Yeah, I'm pleased with that."

Next up for Stephens is Anett Kontaveit, the Estonian who knocked out two-time champion on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, June 02 2018. 20:35 IST