Q&A with Future Fed Cuppers McHale, Stephens
Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:06 AM ET
By Erin Bruehl, USTA.com

Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens are two talented, up-and-coming young Americans with some already prestigious resumes. McHale, 16, recently won the 2009 Girls' 18s Easter Bowl title and made her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the 2009 Australian Open, where she also won the girls’ doubles title. Stephens, 16, won both the singles and doubles title at the 2009 International Spring Championships and, at the 2008 US Open, reached the girls’ doubles final and also played in the mixed doubles main draw with Robert Kendrick, upsetting the No. 1 seeds in the first round.

Both players were members of the title-winning 2008 U.S. Junior Fed Cup Team and this week are with the U.S. Fed Cup Team in Brno, Czech Republic, as Future Fed Cuppers as the team prepares for the semifinal tie, April 25-26. The two friends took some time to talk to USTA.com about their recent success, upcoming plans and the Fed Cup experience.

USTA.com: Christina, how was the Easter Bowl win?

McHale: It was really one of my best tournaments. I started kind of shaky; my first couple of matches were not that great, but I worked my way into it. After Australia, I was not doing so great. I had not won a singles match this year until Easter Bowl, so this was kind of a relief. I had some tough matches though this year. I had been doing a lot of training (in Boca Raton at the USTA Training Center), and I just felt ready, and I worked my way into the tournament. I had not had that many matches.

USTA.com: How was playing in Australia – winning girls’ doubles and making your Grand Slam main-draw debut?

McHale: Playing in the main draw for the first time was a lot of fun but very disappointing how it ended. It was cool that my first Grand Slam main draw was in Australia. Getting to go all the way there, it was very exciting. I felt more comfortable for juniors then; I had already been on the courts there and had time for things to settle down. Winning the juniors doubles was really exciting. It made the trip even better.

USTA.com: What was it like being on the winning Junior Fed Cup Team last year?

McHale: For the whole team, it was really good in Mexico. We would go cheer for the guys, and they would come cheer for us.

Stephens: It was as if all six of us were on one team, not three girls and three guys. We were always together, always did stuff together – play soccer, play Frisbee. We were together the whole time. We really wanted them to do well.

USTA.com: What do you like about playing on a team?

Stephens: You want to do well for your team, it is not just for yourself. You want all the other people to do well, too, and put forth the effort. Everyone is like, we have to get it together because it is not just for me, it is for the team. Cheering is great when you’re playing, and when they’re cheering for you, it is exciting, like “I really want to do this."

USTA.com: Sloane, tell us about the International Spring Championships.

Stephens: It was a good week. It was fun. It seemed like it was really long, but my days were short. I played first and then third. But I always wanted to go and play the next day. I did not play Easter Bowl, and then we were supposed to go to (the USTA Pro Circuit event in) Dothan, but we came here (to Brno), instead. I wasn’t even really going to play Carson (the International Spring Championships), but it was kind of a last-minute decision.

USTA.com: What was your reaction when Mary Joe invited you to come as a Future Fed Cupper for the first time?

Stephens: I was playing a practice set against this boy I had never beaten before, and I finally beat him, like 6-1, and I was super excited. My mom said, “Mary Joe just called -- you should call her back." And I thought, "Oh I wonder why she is calling." I was feeling so good about myself, like I cannot believe I just beat him. I called Mary Joe back, and when she asked me, I was like, "Oh my God." I was so excited. I was on such a high.

USTA.com: How has it been going? Christina, how is it similar or different to last year when you were a Future Fed Cupper for the quarterfinal tie in La Jolla, Calif.?

McHale: It’s similar to La Jolla but also different because we’re in a different country. It’s been fun so far. The team atmosphere is really good. I was really excited to get to come again, and I feel more comfortable now because I know Mary Joe and I know more people on the team now.

Stephens: It has been good. It’s fun, and it is different.

USTA.com: What tournaments do you girls have coming up?

McHale: We both are going to Spain in May, and then we will play juniors at the French Open and Wimbledon and then World TeamTennis. It will be the first time playing World TeamTennis for both of us, for the New York Buzz.

USTA.com: How much are you looking forward to World TeamTennis? How did you get involved?

Stephens: It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was right after Sony Ericsson, I was getting on the flight to go back home, and I called Christina and asked if she was going to do it. We then texted back and forth. It took us about a day and the next morning to decide whether or not to play. My mom said, “Just do it.” I was kind of concerned who the coach was going to be, but luckily we got Roger Smith. He’s my coach, and he was our Fed Cup coach, too. And Liezel is also playing, Vania King is playing, Sam Querrey is playing.

McHale: We both decided about the same time. We said, "Let’s just do it, let’s just play." And a lot of people we know were playing.

USTA.com: What goals do you two have for this year?

McHale: I really just want to continue to work on my game. I’m excited to play junior French Open and Wimbledon. I have not gone to those tournaments before.

Stephens: I want to work on my game to improve. You’re getting older, so you have to make sure everything is good now. You don’t want to be 20 and realize you can’t come to the net or want to try approach-pass drills in practice. There are things you just want to work on and make sure you can do now.

USTA.com: What are your plans for the 2009 US Open?

Stephens: We beat Daniel Nestor in the first round in mixed doubles last year, and he is one of the best players. That was pretty intense and especially because it was at the US Open. I’ll play juniors for sure this year.

McHale: I’ll play juniors and just see how the rest of the year goes and hopefully continue to improve and do well.

(From USTA.com)