U.S. Open Champion Sloane Stevens

A teenage-Sloane in 2010. 

During the summer of 2010, I had the chance to go to Wimbledon. It was my first visit to a Grand Slam event, and although I didn't have a ticket to see Serena in her semi-final match, I did have the chance to catch an upcoming American on one of the outside courts.

Sloane Stephens lost in three sets that day, but I've been following her career ever since. It also helped that I met her mom and taught her brother who attended my middle school several years ago. Her brother has a big personality, and I got to coach him in baseball, teach him English, and help him plan for the future in our Emerson Sports Academy. 

That spring, in 2011, Sloane climbed the ranks and qualified for the main draws at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. So, when I saw her outside of my school on a spring afternoon, I congratulated her on her success. She smiled and was kind, and I continued to be a fan. I watched her beat Serena at the Australian in 2013, and hoped that would be the moment when Sloane would break into the top 10 to stay. But Sloane was inconsistent and struggled with injuries. 

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images.

Her brother came back to visit a couple years ago, as he was graduation from high school and heading off to college. He wrote me a note using the Cornell Notes we'd forced them to do in Sports Academy. It was one of those wonderful moments in teaching when you get to see phenomenal growth in a young person.

So, this afternoon, after 11 months away from the game, I cried watching Sloane climb into the stands to hug her coach and mom after winning her first Grand Slam title. Her journey has brought her maturity and positivity on the court that she was missing earlier in her career. It was wonderful to see such phenomenal growth in Sloane. I hope this is the first of many victories for her. As always, I'll be pulling for her!

Multitasking While Watching the 2014 US Open

I've always dreamed that for a year I would follow the tennis tour, go to all four major and write about tennis. If anyone would like to fund this venture, hit me up, but for now, just a few thoughts as I watch Djokovic v. Murray after a long day (we took 215 students to a Dodger game).

It's the second set. It's been back and forth, but Murray is looking strong in this second set. Cut to: Amelie Mauresmo in the stands with an emphatic fist-pump after a Murray winner. She's coaching Murray? That's all kinds of awesome. Which got me wondering about some other women's tennis players. So, Gabriella Sabatini, according to www.wearetennis.com, has a perfume line and cycles to stay in shape. She's a few years older than me and looks amazing. Jennifer Capriati is on twitter @JenCapriati, and Monica Seles still reminds me of Celine Dion.

And how are the men holding up? Well, Mats Wilander, Stephan Edberg and Bjorn Borg look so much older than I expected but in a dignified kind of way.

Now, back to the match: another tiebreaker!