During the months following her dramatic run at Wimbledon, Stevenson was named rookie of the year by Tennis Magazine and named Most Fascinating by People Magazine. She was interviewed by Barbara Walters for a Barbara Walters Special and was featured in a variety of national and international media. NIKE, Inc. flew a dozen flags with Stevenson's name in bold print during her first visit to the iconic campus. Stevenson moved from California to train with Nick Bolletierri at IMG Academies from 1999-2002. In 2000 and 2001 Stevenson, often pitted against top 20 players - including Tauziat, Mary Pierce, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Amanda Coetzer, Lisa Raymond, Dominique VanRoost, Julie Halard, Jennifer Capriati, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams - worked on her aggressive all-court playing style as she found her way in the professional game.
On September 11, 2001, Stevenson lost two friends - Manny Del Valle Jr., a fireman in the World Trade Center and her high school girl friend, Deora Bodley on Flight 93. Stevenson wrote an article in the New York Times about Del Valle, a driver to the players at the US Open. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/23/sports/perspective-a-player-will-always-remember. In 2002, the four Grand Slams allowed Stevenson to wear the patch of DelValle's Engine Company (Engine No. 5) on her NIKE hat. Stevenson reached the quarterfinals at Quebec City in 2001, and the quarterfinals at Linz, defeating Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario en route.
But, it was 2002 that lifted Stevenson to No. 18 in the world. Stevenson had played during the European indoor season in 2001 and was the only American player following 9/11 in Moscow. In 2002, prior to the European indoors, she lost to Monica Seles in the Tokyo quarterfinals 7-6 (9)7-6 (9)and there were no breaks of serve until the tiebreakers. Alan Mills, the Tokyo referee and renouned Wimbledon refereee said, "This is the finest women's serving match I have ever seen." Soon after, Seles and Stevenson would be asked to serve aces for the Heart Association, bringing awareness to heart disease. Stevenson had 100 aces in 2003. During the 2002 European indoors, Stevenson won her first doubles title with Serena Williams in Leipzig, Germany. She reached the quarterfinals of Filderstadt, defeating number one Jennifer Capriati. She was a finalist at Linz, beating four top ten players en route, including Capriati. Stevenson finished the year at 18, percentage points away from No. 17 Elena Dementieva and the WTA Tour Championships. She appeared as an alternate.
stats
Residence: San Diego, CA, USA
DOB: December 21, 1980
Birthplace: La Jolla, CA, USA
Height: 6' 1'' (1.85 m)
Weight: 156 lbs. (71 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Status: Pro (June 1999)
