[286], Stephens credits her mother for supporting her career as a tennis player since she was very young. Although she reached No. Sloane Stephens hires Rafael Nadal's former tennis coach. Her successful year was cut short by a foot injury that kept her out for months. Stephens's stepfather died from cancer in 2007, while her biological father died in a car crash in 2009. She fell out of the top 20 upon losing her 2018 WTA Finals rankings points near the end of the season. 11 in the world, had been coached by Sven Groeneveld since Maybut announced the end of that partnershipMonday. 1, Simona Halep, her first loss in a WTA singles final. In her first tournament back, she made it to the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International to set up an encounter with world No. Stephens was the 2017 US Open champion, and has won seven WTA Tour singles titles in total. After Stephens was able to push the match to three sets Halep was able to regroup and win the match. [219] At the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Anastasia Potapova. [241] In 2015, Stephens won the first set of their encounters at the Indian Wells Open and the French Open, but ultimately lost in three sets in both instances. I'm always cheering for her."[231]. She lost in the third round to No. [187] At the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, she lost in the first round to qualifier Caroline Garcia. 30 Sara Errani. He recruited me as a junior for Adidas. [127] Nonetheless, the United States won the tie 32 to give Stephens her first Fed Cup crown. "[243], Stephens has a 27 record against Halep. Your email address will not be published. [111][112] However, she showed some signs of improvement by reaching the doubles final at Washington with Eugenie Bouchard. Another opportunity for the both of us. [281][282][283], Stephens has previously signed a deal with the American Express credit card company and was formerly an endorser of the Listerine mouthwash product. Tennis News. The 29-year-old Stephens announced she's hired Francisco Roig as her new coach. Seeded 26th, she won her opening two matches in straight sets before losing in the third round to third seed and six-time champion Serena Williams. 1 Swiatek", "Gauff bests Stephens at French Open, reaches first Grand Slam semifinal", "Katie Swan stuns grand slam winner Sloane Stephens in Bad Homburg", "Wimbledon: Zheng Qinwen defeats Sloane Stephens on Wimbledon debut", "Photos: Tomljanovic, Azarenka first-round winners in Washington", "Sakkari: Overcame Stephens' difficult test with a 2-1 set win", "Stat of the Day: Swiatek tallies 50th win of the season in Cincy", "No. Sloane took Franciscos advice at 11 and proceeded to Boca Raton to train. 28, Yulia Putintseva. [18] During the US Open, she left New York after her first match to attend her biological father's funeral in Louisiana. Emma Hruby Jan 18, 2022. [37][38][39] During the summer of 2008, Stephens won her first professional title in doubles at a low-level $10K event in Wichita alongside partner Christina McHale. Stephens replaced him with Paul Annacone, who is better known for coaching two of the greatest players in tennis history in Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. 109, Maria Kirilenko. Kamau Murray. Sloane Stephens is a top-rated American female tennis player with a lot to offer and a potential successor to the retired Serena Williams. Stephens's biggest rivalry is with her close friend and compatriot Madison Keys. [211], Stephens started her US Open series at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. She lost in the first round to Ajla Tomljanovi. [221] She was double bageled in her quarterfinal match by eventual champion Camila Giorgi. 24, Jil Teichmann, in the fourth round. Her favorite surface is clay, on which she was a finalist at the French Open. [82], Stephens did not do well at the US Open either, losing in the second round to world No. 38. [125][126], After the US Open, Stephens did not win another match the rest of the season. Now, Stephens has Nadal's former coach in her corner. 22 in the world. Sloane Stephens has reconnected with coach Kamau Murray days ahead of this year's U.S. Open, which Stephens won in 2017 while working with Murray. [182] She lost in her fourth-round match to eventual champion Barbora Krejkov. 4, Maria Sakkari. [44] Early in the year, she played in her first Australian Open main draw and made it to the second round. She notably defeated world No. [239][237] She also noted that she has read Serena's autobiography and respects her strong personality. She attended several WTA events in the United States including Indian Wells, the Miami, and Charleston, where she interviewed fellow tennis players and also provided analysis. Chicago will return to World TeamTennis this summer, with 2017 U.S. Open women's champion Sloane Stephens leading the expansion Smash. 7 Kiki Bertens. Sloane Stephens is a top-rated American female tennis player with a lot to offer and a potential successor to the retired Serena Williams. However, unlike the previous year, Stephens was able to win two matches on the continent at the China Open. Also, I like listening to Depeche Mode and walking my dog. However, she was able to produce her best result at the tournament, making it to the final. [33] In the spring of 2008, she received a qualifying wildcard into her first WTA Tour event, the Miami Open, where she lost her opening round match. [156] Stephens fell out of the top 10 shortly before the US Open, and again afterwards. "[131] In the coming months, she would prove to be correct, first by snapping her losing streak at her next tournament in Acapulco. [6][25], In 2010, Stephens partnered with Tmea Babos to win the doubles title at all three majors in which they participated. [51] Stephens then closed out the winter hardcourt season by qualifying for the Miami Open. She has also reached a new career-high ranking at No. The American player, who competed in both the U.S. Open and the. 17 after the tournament. We aims to be available wherever and whenever you need it. Stephens avenged her Charleston Open defeat in 2021, beating Keys in straight sets in the 2nd round. [8] She has a younger half-brother, Shawn Farrell, who played baseball and football at Notre Dame High School outside of Los Angeles. It'll be okay, don't worry. The match win and her run into a Grand Slam singles semifinal garnered international attention and put her on the cusp of cracking the top 10 of the WTA rankings later in the season. [157] At the first edition of the Adelaide International, she was defeated in the first round in straight sets by world No. 10, Karolna Plkov, in the second round. [6] Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry regarded him as the best athlete he had ever seen. "Happy to have Francis Roig join my team as my new coach! She finally did end her season upon being diagnosed with a stress fracture. American professional tennis player Madison Keys, 24, is back at the US Open (she was defeated by Sloane Stephens at the finals in 2017), and on the heels of winning the Western & Southern Open. [117] She then defeated No. [192] In November, she played for the U.S. team at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. [119] Madison Keys won the other semifinal against CoCo Vandeweghe. [154], Outside of the majors, Stephens best performance also came on clay at the Madrid Open, a Premier Mandatory event. 151, Kristna Kuov. [123][124] She also became the lowest-ranked US Open champion ever, and the fifth-lowest at any Grand Slam tournament. When she won the 2017 US Open, she recalled an instance at age 11 when her mother believed Stephens had high upside in spite of being told by an instructor at a junior tennis academy that she would be lucky to get a tennis scholarship to a Division II college. Stephens started her season at the first edition of the Grampians Trophy. [73] She lost in the next round to No. [143][144] She then closed out the season by participating in her first WTA Finals in Singapore. [138] Nonetheless, this run catapulted her to a career-high ranking of No. Tennis Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The American coach has worked with Sloane on two different occasions, although the second relationship was not so fruitful. [32], Stephens played her first professional events on the ITF Women's Circuit in late 2007. [60], Stephens was ready to return for the Australian hardcourt season. Emma Hruby . 200711: Tour debut, entering the top 100, 2013: Major semifinal, Serena upset, world No. 30 in the world. [16][295][296], In late 2017, Stephens graduated from Indiana University East with a bachelor's degree in communications studies. 2-ranked Simona Halep handles American Sloane Stephens at Citi Open", "Bouchard, Stephens fall in Citi Open finals, shift focus to Rogers Cup", "Wozniacki ends Stephens' Toronto run, roars into final", "Stephens pulls out three-set win over Cibulkova", "Stats Corner: American quartet soars into US Open quarterfinals", "U.S. Open: Madison Keys beats Kaia Kanepi to complete American sweep of women's semifinals", "No. [200] At the Indian Wells Open, she fell in the first round to 2018 champion Naomi Osaka. Gracheva won 7-6 (4), 6-3 in an hour and 51 minutes against . [215], Two weeks after the US Open, Stephens played at the Emilia-Romagna Open. She achieved a career-best ranking of world No. She became a promising junior player, reaching an ITF junior ranking of world No. Stephens was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Sheldon Farrell, who married Smith in 1997 and worked as a business consultant. [198], In February, Stephens competed at the Abierto Zapopan in Guadalajara, Mexico. 2. This was only the fourth time in the previous 47 Grand Slam singles finals where the winner of the first set was unable to win the match. 9 Seed Karolina Pliskova in Straight Sets in 2R of French Open 2021", "Krejcikova routs Stephens to reach first Slam quarterfinal at French Open", "American Sloane Stephens upsets two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Centre Court", "American Sloane Stephens bounced in third round at Wimbledon by wild card Liudmila Samsonova", "Collins Conquers Stephens to Stretch Winning Streak to Seven", "INCREDIBLE! She finished runner-up at the Canadian Open to Halep, her second high-level Premier final of the year. [133] With this performance, she also cracked the top 10 for the first time. Sloane Stephens graduated from Indiana University East Class of 2017( Source : instagram) Further, Roger Smith started to coach her in early 2009, and she became a top-ranked junior with three Grand Slam tournament doubles titles. 10 Angelique Kerber in the fourth round and quarterfinals, and No. [12][13][14] Two years after she started playing tennis, Stephens relocated to Boca Raton in Florida. [130][45], Stephens extended her losing streak to eight matches at the Australian Open. She then reached her first WTA semifinal at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. [65][241] All of their matches since have been contested at high-level Premier tournaments or Grand Slam tournaments. In the round robin stage, Stephens swept her group of Naomi Osaka, Kiki Bertens, and Angelique Kerber to advance to the knockout stage. [63][64] This was the first top-ten victory of Stephens's career and made her much more prominent. 13 and was named WTA Comeback Player of the Year. Similar to the case of Annacone, she also spent some time with Thomas after departing from Annacone. 306 and lucky loser, Nefisa Berberovi, in three sets. [293][294] She had previously dated fellow American tennis player Jack Sock for over a year. 1 Iga Swiatek trounces former champ Sloane Stephens", "Quite a scene in Parma; Sloane Stephens overcomes bee sting, difficult opponent", "Parma Ladies Open: Maria Sakkari claims last-8 spot; Sloane Stephens exits", "Sloane Stephens falls to Masarova in opening Auckland contest; Sofia Kenin sets Gauff clash", "Sloane Stephens in early Hobart WTA exit", "Australian Open 2023 results: Maria Sakkari avoids a shock against Diana Shnaider", "Mrida Open: Stephens gets first win of 2023", "World TeamTennis Adds Stars Tiafoe, Puig, Roanic, Bouchard, & Sock As Rosters Set For 2020", "U.S. Open Loss Behind Her, Madison Keys Accentuates the Positive", "Madison Keys will crack top 10 in world rankings after reaching Birmingham final", "Why is it the American women are thriving at the US Open? Sloane Stephens is building her resume of accomplishments both on and off the court!. 11, 2017: Comeback, US Open title, year-end struggles, 2018: French Open finalist, WTA Finals runner-up, world No. She switched to a new coach, Kamau Murray, under whom she returned to elite level and won three WTA titles in the first half of 2016. [165] At the Cincinnati Open, she was defeated in the first round by Caroline Garcia. She is one of the few black Americans after the Williams sisters that have been ranked among the Worlds Top 10 female tennis players. [189] She was defeated in the third round by 16th seed and 2016 champion, Angelique Kerber. He has also been able to motivate Sloane to a title, won at the 2022 Guadalajara in Mexico. "[260][261][262], When Stephens was just starting to play tennis at the Sierra Sport and Racquet Club, one of her first instructors was Francisco Gonzlez, a retired professional tennis player once ranked in the top 50. 270 ZARAZUA SHOCKS STEPHENS IN ACAPULCO", "Stephens survives Navarro charge in Monterrey", "WTA Tour: Fifth seed Sloane Stephens shocked by teenager sensation Leylah Fernandez in Monterrey", "WTA and ATP announce further suspension of tennis through June 7", "ATP AND WTA EXTEND TOUR SUSPENSIONS INTO JULY DUE TO CORONAVIRUS", "Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez upsets Sloane Stephens at Top Seed Open", "Western and Southern Open: Caroline Garcia beats Sloane Stephens, Vondrousova upset", "Serena Williams fights back, routs former champ Sloane Stephens", "Hibino handles Stephens in Strasbourg opener", "Badosa beats Stephens for Roland Garros breakthrough", "Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez beats Sloane Stephens at Grampians Trophy", "Barty whitewash, Putintseva comeback lead to Australian Open wins", "Doi, Gracheva kick off Phillip Island Trophy with Garcia, Stephens upsets", "Stephens slumps to 0-4 in 2021 after Monterrey Open exit", "Sloane Stephens Breaks 2021 Duck At Miami Open, Svetlana Kuznetsova Loses In First Round", "BIANCA ANDREESCU TRIUMPHS IN MIAMI, AMANDA ANISIMOVA AWAITS", "WTA Charleston: Sloane Stephens upsets Madison Keys", "Spain's Badosa ousts world No. [57], Back in the United States, Stephens played at the Citi Open in late July and made it to her second career WTA semifinal. For Sloane Stephens, the beginning of a friendship", "Sloane Stephens Ready to Sparkle in 2013", "WIL 12 Serena Williams vs. Sloane Stephens Match Summary", "The Stars and Stripes in 2013: Sloane Stephens", "Serena, Venus lift USA past Sweden in Fed Cup", "Stephens' maturation continues as she exits French Open quietly", "Wimbledon: Sloane Stephens steals spotlight from Serena Williams again", "Maria Sharapova beaten by Sloane Stephens in second round of Cincinnati Masters", "USTA FL Friday Blog: Roddick Debut on FOX Sports 1; Tennis on TV", "Serena Williams defeats Sloane Stephens in fourth round of U.S. Open", "WTA Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens head to Istanbul as alternates", "Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens withdraw from Hobart International", "Australian Open 2014: Victoria Azarenka breezes past Sloane Stephens to dispel memories of controversial victory last year", "Sloane Stephens advances to Indian Wells quarterfinals in strong outing", "France stun USA to seal World Group place", "French Open 2014: Simona Halep beats Sloane Stephens in fourth round", "Sloane Stephens ousted in first round at Wimbledon by Maria Kirilenko", "Sloane Stephens falls in second round of U.S. Open", "What's Next for Sloane Stephens After Early 2015 Australian Open Exit? 17 Anastasija Sevastova to set up the first all-American semifinals at a major since Wimbledon in 1985, and the first at the US Open since 1981. [186] In Montreal, she was beaten in the second round by top seed and world No. Roger, who only recorded three (3) Doubles titles during his career, led Sloane to 3 Doubles Grand Slams titles as a junior player and into the Worlds Top 100. [104], In contrast to previous years where Stephens struggled at smaller tournaments while still doing well at bigger tournaments, she struggled at the Grand Slam tournaments and high-level Premier events in 2016. [18] Her first breakthrough result came at the US Open in 2008, where she reached her first doubles final at a Grand Slam with Mallory Burdette. [110] Stephens returned to the WTA Tour in July for Wimbledon, about eleven months after her last match and with her ranking having dropped to No. 45 while rising no higher than No. 4 Simona Halep in the fourth round. [278], After her US Open victory, Stephens accrued several new sponsors, including Mercedes-Benz. 957. Stephens had entered the month having never reached a semifinal at a high-level Premier tournament. [55] Stephens built on this momentum with a third-round appearance in her Wimbledon main-draw debut, which was highlighted by an upset of 23rd seed Petra Cetkovsk. Stephens played singles for the Smash throughout the season, helping them to earn a No. This score is average compared to other women's tennis players, and rates similarly to fellow Grand Slam tournament winners Justine Henin and Victoria Azarenka. 18, Emma Raducanu, in three sets. Without a permanent coach this year the world No.7 posted a 6-6 match record on Tour until appointing Sven Groeneveld ahead of her clay-court campaign. Her stepfather was a competitive recreational tennis player and was her primary inspiration for beginning to play the sport. 2 Halep again in Cincinnati. I'm just gonna keep improving and getting better and looking forward to the next tournaments. [183], Ranked 73 at Wimbledon, Stephens upset tenth seed and two-time champion, Petra Kvitov, in the first round. She won the tournament without dropping a set for her first career WTA title. [101] Her third and last title of the year came on clay at the higher-level Charleston Open, a low-level Premier event. 11 in the world. [129] Stephens finished the season ranked No. The two Americans finished the round-robin in third place in their group, with only one rubber win against Spain. When she returned to the court, this injury continued to hinder her performance as she did not defeat another top 50 opponent until after the clay-court season. As Sloane Stephens plays in the French Open, the second Grand Slam event of the year, she has regrets about having competed at the first one. Stephens and Murray went "on a break" -- in Murray's . Seeded 13th, she lost in the first round to Zheng Qinwen. Sloane Stephens has reunited with former coach Kamau Murray, with the pair to work together during the US Open. 2, Simona Halep, at the Washington Open. [116] In the fourth round, she defeated No. [120] Stephens closed out the tournament by defeating Keys in straight sets to win her first Grand Slam tournament title. [148] In her final match of the season, Stephens was able to win the first set against Elina Svitolina, but ultimately lost the match. [233][234][235][236] She grew up as a fan of the Williams sisters, but had lost some of her interest in them after they did not sign autographs at a Fed Cup tie that Stephens attended at age 12. [240], Stephens has a 16 record against Serena Williams, with three of their matches coming in 2013, other three in 2015 and one in 2020. 15, Jelena Jankovic. The foundation is run by Stephens, her mother, and her uncle Ronald Smith. Since then, she has risen to become a star, winning a total of 7 Singles career titles, including a Grand Slam and attaining a career highest ranking of 3. [80] Once again, Stephens did not have a good clay-court season, winning multiple matches in just two out of six tournaments. 3, Serena Williams. I either write tennis articles or play tennis with my friends. Austin mayor Kirk Watson presents Sloane Stephens with the 2023 Catalyst award Thursday night along with a $250,000 check to her foundation that works to introduce tennis to young players .