US Open champ Stephens says nothing has changed

If you won a Grand Slam, you'd probably buy a house, or a car, right? The victory would at the very least, go straight to your head. That's not been the case for Sloane Stephens, who won the US Open this year as a wildcard, along with $3.7 million in prize money.

She couldn't believe the size of her check, just like most couldn't believe the American, who came back on tour ranked in the 900's, could win it all.

"When Sloane won obviously I was extremely happy for her," U.S. captain Kathy Rinaldi said. "I've been watching her since she was in the juniors. It was just a tremendous moment."

Now some many months removed from her boot days following surgery in January, Stephens looks to add another trophy to her collection: the Fed Cup. The 24-year-old is in Minsk this weekend along with CoCo Vandeweghe, Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske.

But for Stephens, nothing has changed, despite the whirlwind media tour that followed her US Open win and her sudden return to the Top 15. She was ranked inside the Top 30 last summer anyway, before the foot injury pushed her off the tour for 10 months.

"Not really much is different. I haven't purchased anything, I haven't gone anywhere," Stephens said. "Nothing in my life has changed. Nothing new. I still look the same."

The tour certainly didn't stop in New York. Stephens went to Asia right her Grand Slam dream came true, where reality struck with four straight losses, including a first-set retirement against Barbora Strycova in Zhuhai.

Now Rinaldi will do everything in her power to make sure Stephens is ready for Saturday, where play begins with Vandeweghe facing Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Stephens taking on Aryna Sabalenka.

"Everyone is coming from different situations and you have to be open minded. The girls have their personal coaches here as well," Rinaldi said. "I really listen and I observe and make sure that each player is individually ready to go for Saturday and Sunday. They thrive and they love playing for their country so they're going to leave it all on the court."

The Fed Cup final will be covered live by Tennis Channel starting at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday.