WATCH: Stephens Escapes Pesky Flying Insect During Interview

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WATCH: Stephens Escapes Pesky Flying Insect During Interview

A pesky flying insect literally forced Sloane Stephens out of her chair.

Stephens, speaking to reporters after her US Open quarterfinal win, dove for cover from the insect during the end of her press conference.

“If anyone ever asks anything. I always… Oh my God!!. What is that thing? It’s like a dragon!”

US Open: Stephens Reaches Semifinals

Despite the bug scare, the 24-year-old American now finds herself in the US Open semifinals after a remarkable summer that has seen her ranking soar from the mid-900’s just a few months ago.

Stephens defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4) to enter the final four of New York for her second career major semifinal.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. #USOpen 🇺🇸
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 5, 2017

“Yeah, it's incredible, amazing. Like I said before, if someone would have told me when I started at Wimbledon that I'd be in the semifinals or making, well, three semifinals back to back, I would have said they're crazy. Just happy to be playing really well and happy that my foot is good and I don't have any pain and my body is holding up. So many positives, just to, like, take out of it for myself personally,” Stephens said after her win in her press conference.

Stephens burst onto the tennis scene when she defeated Serena Williams en route to reaching the Australian Open semifinals in 2013. But tennis success from there proved hard to replicate for the American until recently.

Stephens, who reached a career high ranking of No. 11, won three titles in 2016 and looked poised to take the next step in her career. But that’s when injury derailed those hopes.

Stephens spent many months away from the courts when a left foot injury she incurred last year ultimately required surgery early this season. Not able to play, Stephens enjoyed being able to spend time with her family and did some TV commentating for Tennis Channel.

"[In my] comeback, I could have never dreamed of something like this happening. Making the SFs of my home slam. It's indescribable." #usopen pic.twitter.com/tvnrJWwB14
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2017

“I don't think it was, like, one moment. It was just obviously not playing tennis for basically 11 months,” Stephens said when asked if there was a defining moment that made her miss the game. “I couldn't walk, I couldn't do all the things that I wanted to do. But I did get to hang out with my family and see my little cousin's soccer games and go to weddings and baby showers and stuff. All the things that I thought before I was missing out on, I really wasn't. Like, you know, playing tennis is an amazing thing and I'm lucky that I'm able to play a sport for a living. I really love playing tennis.

I think it was just kind of, like, eye opening. When I wasn't playing, like, of course I loved my time off, but when I got back to playing tennis, it was, like, this is where I want to be. This is what I love doing.”

Next up for Stephens is Venus Williams whom she considers a leader for the younger American players today.

“I think Venus is just our leader. I think as a whole, she's just like what everyone looks up to. She's a great player, a great person. She's a great leader. Being on Fed Cup teams with her, like, there is not anything bad you can say about Venus. I'm just honored to be able to play at the same time as her. I'm happy she's still playing. She means a lot to the game.”

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