The same traits her father, Dr. J., brought to the basketball court.

Julius Erving, the Basketball Hall of Famer, has admitted that he is the father of the 18-year-old tennis phenom. In a recent appearance on ESPN's Up Close, Stevenson told host Gary Miller that she does not forsee Erving becoming a significant part of her life. She did, however, show appreciation for Dr. J's accomplishments as an athlete.

"He's a great athlete and I'm fortunate to have some of his genes," Stevenson said. "My mom's family has great athletes too, so it's a great mix, and I think he's a great athlete."

The following is an edited transcript of Stevenson's interview:

Miller: It seems to us, to the world, that you just happened all of a sudden (reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon), does it feel that way?

Stevenson: Well actually, not to me because I always knew it was going to happen. I guess it did happen all of a sudden because I did so well.

Miller: You knew it was going to happen, this soon?

Stevenson: Sure, I've been waiting for it. When I boarded the plane to England, I knew something big was going to happen because my mom gave me the ultimatum, "either do really well this summer or go to college" and although I want to go to college later, I didn't want to go right away. I knew I had to make something big happen or else I was going to have to go off to UCLA in a couple of months.

Miller: Why was it going to be different, I mean, it is Wimbledon. Normally, people make their successes at a little bit of a lesser tournament?

Stevenson: I've always loved Wimbledon and it's always been my goal to win Wimbledon and Wimbledon has always seemed like my backyard, like I belong there. So when I got there I was like "I belong here, I'm ready" and it happened. I didn't win it, so I can't say I achieved my great goal. I still have a way to go on that one.

Miller: Do you realize the magnitude of your accomplishment, being the first female to come to the qualifying ranks and then make it to the final four?

Stevenson: I think it's great. I'm very excited to be compared to John McEnroe. I love him, he's a great competitor and he's really funny and very smart and I love watching him commentate and I hope to meet him. Actually, it would be really cool to play mixed doubles with him at the U.S Open. I think that would sell a lot of tickets.

Miller: Was there a point where you thought you were going to win Wimbledon?

Stevenson: Sure, I did. In qualifying I always knew I could go all the way through and then I kept going and going and I'm like "I can win this thing." In the semifinals, it hit me that I was a little tired and I had used up all my energy and Lindsay Davenport played like a champion, obviously, she played really well. There I am now, it wasn't my best match and so it didn't happen, but hopefully it will happen next year.

Miller: Could you clear up the spat between you and (Lindsay) Davenport? Did she not treat you very well coming along?

Stevenson: I really haven't had a conversation with her so I can't say that. I know she says things in the newspapers, but she has to be careful with the things she says, I don't think she means to say them, maybe she does, but I read some of them. But I tape all the quotes up that the girls on the Tour say on my refrigerator. I look at them and say "OK, next time I going to beat you when I play you," so it gets me ready. My mom and I have a competition to see who can get the best quotes out the paper and the Internet.

Miller: How were you not affected by the things that came out during Wimbledon?

Stevenson: Actually, in Wimbeldon I didn't read anything, I just focused on my tennis. When I'm at home I'll read the paper and I'll read when I'm not in a tournament, but when I'm in a tournament I usually don't read papers. Until I lose and I want to see what the girls say, or when I win and I want to see what they say. But during a tournament I just stay really focused and I'm kind of in my own little world and no one can touch me, no one bothers me, I don't read any outside news or anything.

Miller: Did the taunting from lesbians and on the racial issues that happened in the past and in England, was it unfortunate that timing came out in Wimbledon and was it overblown?

Stevenson: Due to these spectacular tabloids that love to blow things out of proportion, I'm going to have to say that they definitely blew this out of proportion and they took words my mom and everybody else said and they changed the words into lesbianism and racism, like "lifestyle" meant lesbianism, which it doesn't. Lifestyle has a lot of different definitions and so I think they just blew a lot of things out of proportion, but they're going to do that, so you learn next time "just don't talk."

Miller: What in your eyes crosses the line of being competitive and getting under your opponents' skin? What are some examples of things that have happened to you that you feel are uncalled for?

Stevenson: I just think that the girls on the Tour ... it's hard because it is a competitive area and you want to be competitive, but you don't want to be rude and outside the court you should be able to take it off the court. Some girls have trouble doing that, but then some girls don't, it just depends on both sides. I think it's easier on the men's side. Men tend to just take it off the court and whatever, or they go have a fight and it's over. Girls are totally different than guys, obviously, but men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Girls have trouble, like in school you get in a fight and you hold a grudge for a week or a year and it's just tougher when your in a close environment on a Tour and playing each other week after week.

Miller: You've been called the "N" word before and, similar to Tiger Woods, you describe your nationality, it's too hard to get it all down, how do you describe yourself?

Stevenson: I describe myself as multicultural and actually I'm eight things. But another funny story: My history teacher last year, Mr. Torrance, came up with this term, because is was about seven of us who are mixed and it was a pretty good ratio. He called us "Halfrikans" so I thought that was kind of funny. But I perceive myself as multicultural and actually when people ask me what I am, I tell them I'm a human being just like you are, and I just think people take the racism out of proportion. Because in the end you're just a person, you're the same, you eat, breathe, and sleep.

Miller: After the story came out that Julius Erving was your father and you did the Barbara Walters interview, it is hard for us to believe that you don't have more curiosity about who he is.

Stevenson: No, because he's not a part of my life. I've grown up with my mom and I've had everything I ever wanted. He's just my biological father, but the definition of a father is someone that takes care of you and helps you out and I've had my mom for both parenting jobs. I've never wondered or cared; its never bugged me, I've never been curious about it.

Miller: So you don't care much about his records and what he did?

Stevenson: Actually, I think it's great what he did and he's a great athlete and I'm fortunate to have some of his genes; my mom's family has great athletes too, so it's a great mix and I think he's a great athlete.

Miller: For so long Erving denied the story but finally admitted it publicly, how did you feel that first day?

Stevenson: Well, maybe he was confused. I don't know what he was thinking, but, I mean, whatever he says. I just think that it was kind of dumb to first say "no" and then say "yes," cause it doesn't make you look very smart, but oh well.

Miller: Do you think you'll meet him soon, since your both public figures?

Stevenson: No, I don't plan to. I'm just going to stay with my mom and focus on my tennis and I have a great career ahead of me. I'm just getting started.

Miller: You're so bubbly, nothing really seems to get to you?