The Untold Truth Of Sloane Stephens

During the 2017 professional tennis season, Sloane Stephens was healing from a devastating injury. She fractured her left foot, which caused her to miss eleven months of competitive play. And this was a big deal because many people considered the young superstar "the next Serena Williams," per The Guardian. Then, "completing one of the great comebacks in tennis history," Stephens won the 2017 US Open. This was her first grand slam tournament victory and she went on to win an event in Miami. The following year, Stephens made it to the finals of the French Open and became ranked in the top ten best players.

Going beyond tennis, the star became popular off the court as well. Like in 2021 when Stephens went to the biggest night in fashion, the Met Gala in New York City. For the event, she wore a gorgeous red dress by Aliétte, via Instagram. But Stephens' life hasn't always been glamorous. With all eyes on the tennis player from a young age, Stephens dealt with family tragedies, bullying, and pressure — all in addition to facing off against fierce competitors. But through it all, Stephens continued to be a dominant force on the court in every game, set, and match.

This is the untold truth of Sloane Stephens.

Sloane Stephens was born in Plantation, Florida, in 1993 with athletics already in her genes. "Her mother, Sybil Smith, was an All-American swimmer at Boston University; her father, John Stephens, was a NFL running back," according to Stephens' personal website. In a letter that Stephens wrote for Bustle, she explained how her mom tried to get her into the pool early on, but after some swimming lessons, the future tennis star told her mom, "I'm never doing this again, ask for your money back." Outside of sports, Stephens remembered her mother teaching her important life lessons, like "we can't help ourselves if we're not open to helping others." The tennis star spent much of her childhood with only her mom because her parents divorced when she was a baby.

Though Stephens' relationship with her dad was at times distant, she learned about life from another family man. In an interview for Tennis, Stephens shared her grandfather was the one who "taught me how to read, how to garden, how to plant, how to cook, how to make bread, the colors of the rainbow, everything." And Stephens has many special family traditions, like going together to Hawaii every year for Thanksgiving. "I've made so many memories there," Stephens told Harper's Bazaar about the island state.

As an aspiring tennis star, a demanding schedule led Sloane Stephens to ultimately take the homeschool route. In 2016, she told Costa del Tennis that it was "hard work because you're pretty much on your own academically," and she noted there are some things like dances that she was bummed to miss out on. "I can pretty much live vicariously through [friends who attended high school]," Stephens said.

A couple years later, Stephens told Newsday that she "missed some fun stuff" that comes with the traditional high school experience, but her decision helped pave the way for a successful career. "So I think that is a little better than going to a prom," she said.

After high school, Stephens went directly on tour as a professional player, but she later had a chance to pursue higher education and be a college student. In a program between the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and Indiana University East, Stephens attended classes online while still on tour and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the university in 2017. "Many in my family are college graduates and receiving my degree has been a goal of mine," she said after graduating. Talking about her experience, Stephens said, "I enjoyed coming to the campus" and "meeting many of the people who helped me along the way."

Sloane Stephens has said she didn't watch much tennis as a young girl but was aware of the Williams sisters' — Venus and Serena — success in tennis. "I just loved their look — they looked like me — and I said I want to win like them," Stephens recalled to Costa del Tennis. When she was nine years old, Stephens first played tennis "just to occupy herself while her mother played tennis with friends," per Stephens' official website. The young girl excelled at the sport and joined the Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy in Florida to improve her game. The academy put her on a path to greatness both through technical skills and providing a great environment. "I always say now that the reason why I still play tennis was because of my first experience," Stephens told Nike. "I had the best time and I wanted to go back," she added. The tennis star also credited her coach and the friends she made along the way as reasons for sticking with the sport.

Barely a teenager, Stephens played her first professional matches in Brazil in 2007 with the International Tennis Federation. And the following year, she was already playing in qualifying matches for the US Open. Then at the 2011 US Open, Stephens made a shocking run into the third round. As a result, she became the youngest player in the WTA Top 100 at 18 years old.

While the world was still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sloane Stephens continued to play professional tennis. And while she stayed healthy enough to compete, her family was less fortunate. Between the end of December in 2020 and just before the start of the 2021 Australian Open in February, "Stephens lost an aunt, a grandmother and a grandfather to COVID-19," The New York Times reported. "COVID. Death. Traumatic things happening in life, things that are out of my control," Stephens told the outlet. And one of the most heartbreaking aspects of the deaths was that she wasn't with the rest of her family to grieve. As the publication noted, the tennis star "attended the funerals for her grandparents via teleconference from her hotel room on the other side of the world."

At the time, Stephens was in the middle of a mandatory two-week quarantine in Australia prior to the start of the grand slam tournament — creating a "bubble" of safety for all involved. But looking back, she said wishes made a different choice. "I should have made those inquiries and seen if I could get out of the bubble and go home. I didn't," Stephens said. Instead of attending the funerals in person, she shared that her decision was "something that I'll probably regret for the rest of my life."

To maintain her incredible physical abilities as a tennis player, Sloane Stephens naturally is careful about what she eats. But she's also not afraid to indulge in some guilty pleasures, especially at arguably unexpected times. For example, she said she'll enjoy pizza right before playing. "It might not be the best food to eat pre-match, but it makes me happy and feel good," Stephens told Marie Claire. And according to the tennis player, "sometimes your performance is based on you going out there and being happy." In an interview for Tennis World, Stephens revealed her pre-match routine consisted of warming up, listening to music, and eating carbohydrates like brown rice and vegetables. "Everyone is different, so it depends on what food gives your body energy," she said. And Stephens revealed this pre-match energy sometimes comes from sushi.

In an off-court interview posted by the WTA, Stephens admitted that she often doesn't eat healthy prior to her games. "I just tell myself that I'm racking up the carbs and stuff before," she admitted. During long matches that can go a full three sets, the tennis star admitted it's nice to have the big meal beforehand to give her a "third set pouch." This can include pancakes, juices, omelets, and more — "literally everything at the buffet." She also noted that she's had "the best breakfasts" when she travels around Asia, "so you have to take advantage of it."

If losing a tennis match in front of millions of viewers isn't tough enough, imagine having people send hateful messages afterwards. Sadly, this is often the reality for Sloane Stephens, who admitted to being the victim of cyberbullying. "This type of hate is so exhausting and never ending," she revealed on her Instagram story after losing in the 2021 US Open, via the New York Post. After losing an intense three-set match, Stephens said she received thousands of awful messages through social media. Among the messages were racist comments and threats like, "I promise to find you and destroy your leg so hard that you can't walk anymore." Hinting that this problem may go beyond just her own experience, Stephens explained, "this isn't talked about enough, but it really freaking sucks."

As a result of Stephens' post and other tennis players dealing with off-the-court problems, the United States Tennis Association announced (via the New York Post) it added medical professionals at the tournament "to ensure that a comprehensive and holistic approach will be taken with all aspects of player health, including mental health." And Stephens remained strong in the face of hate and said, "I'm choosing positive vibes over negative ones." And she added that even though her Instagram account often paints a perfect picture of happiness, "it's not always smiles and roses."

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

The immense pressure for elite athletes often comes at a price — like Olympian Michael Phelps who struggles with anxiety and depression. In the tennis world, Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka have openly talked about mental health while on tour. "There's no break," Stephens said at a Q&A with Peloton's Tunde Oyeneyin about the relentless schedule to compete in tennis (via Marie Claire). And as a result, she admitted, "I've been in a place where it's been dark and it's been deep and it's been sad." The tennis star became self aware of her struggles and remembered thinking, "I need to take care of myself because it's a cold world out here." Stephens discussed how previously, it may have been taboo to talk about these subjects, especially as a public figure. "I think that younger athletes are not told enough that it's okay to be sad," or to show emotion, she explained. Stephens is also part of the Women's Tennis Association Players' Council and receives these stories from her peers. With her role, Stephens wanted to create an environment of support among all the players.

Another contributing factor to the pressure faced by Stephens and other athletes is social media. As she told Shape, she's not always into giving interviews because there have been instances where her quotes were misconstrued "for clickbait and taking super short sound bites to cause a reaction or fit in the length of a tweet."

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

As a young girl who became more and more interested in tennis, Sloane Stephens had a chance to meet one of her idols. When she was twelve years old, Stephens and her family went to see Serena Williams compete in Florida. "I waited all day. [The Williams sisters] walked by three times and never signed our posters," Stephens remembered in ESPN. "I was, like, devastated," she said. After that day, Stephens explained she briefly hung the un-signed poster in her room, until "I found a new player to like because I didn't like them anymore." Then in the quarterfinal match at the 2013 Australian Open, Stephens went up against William and was victorious. When Stephens talked to the post-match interviewer about her experience beating her childhood idol, she quipped, "I think I'll put a poster of myself now," Stephens said. 

Personal history aside, the 2017 US Open champ still admires the tennis veteran. Years after she suggested to ESPN that Williams is not actually "so friendly" and would "not been in the same room" as Stephens following their 2013 match, Stephens told Essence that the GOAT is "the baddest that there is" and "has done so much for the sport, especially for young Black girls." 

In 2020, the two battled again at the US Open and Williams won, via The New York Times.

If becoming a professional athlete hadn't panned out for Sloane Stephens, she could've pursued another family business. Growing up, her relatives owned a funeral home business, which gave her a chance to learn how to dress cadavers and understand the inner workings of the profession. "People are scared of dead bodies but you can't be scared," Stephens explained to Tennis View Magazine. Once she was assigned to greet a bereaved family but the emotions caused Stephens to cry, and as a result, that was the last time she worked in that part of the business. "I'm really into bodies and cremation and I like that stuff, I'm really weird, it's strange," she shared, before going on to say, "I like embalming and seeing the bodies!" The interviewer also noted that a journalist once gave Stephens a book about cremation.

The tennis star said that while dead bodies are harmless, "you should be scared of the people walking around because you don't know what's gonna happen." And Stephens stayed positive even after one particularly macabre incident that many people would consider their worst nightmare. When she was younger, she got stuck in a freezer with dead bodies. "That was not fun," she told WTA about the experience. Sheesh, to say the least. 

Sloane Stephens' parents split when she was a baby, and she didn't have a relationship with her father, pro football player John Stephens, until she was a teenager. As The New York Times noted, she "met with her father in person twice, maybe three times" before she received tragic news. When Sloane was in the middle of competing at the 2009 US Open junior tournament at the age of 16, she learned that her father died. "I was sitting right in front of the transportation tent, and my sister called me and was, like, 'Dad died last night in a car accident,'" she recalled to Sports Illustrated. Sloane left New York to attend her dad's funeral and returned to the tournament the following day.

Following her father's death, Sloane learned that he'd pleaded guilty to rape after she was born and was charged with sexual assault again years later. Sybil Stephens told ESPN that she made a point of keeping their father and his crimes out of their kids' lives, but eventually she allowed Sloane to reconnect with him.

The tennis player shared with Sports Illustrated in 2017 that the US Open has been "filled with so many emotions—and not good ones" for her. She's experienced immense grief at the tournament, as well as immense joy. "I've had so many great moments here, and so many sad moments here, that winning, here, makes it even more special," Sloane said about the tournament.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Outside of tennis, Sloane Stephens loves fashion and styling, and she's used her passion to work with some of the most popular companies in the industry. In 2019, she teamed up with Jordan Brand to make a sneaker for the 2019 US Open. This was only the second time Jordan worked with a tennis player to make a custom sneaker to be worn during the tournament. The first? Tennis legend Roger Federer. "Roger is the goat and me being the second — and the first female — I think everyone is going to be jealous," Stephens told Forbes. She helped come up with the design idea to combine the tennis-specific bottom part of the shoe with the stylish upper from the Jordan 8 model, and it sure sounds like she enjoyed helping bring the vision to life. "The process, with a lot of wear testing and color testing, was a lot of fun," she said. What's more, the model she created has a personal connection: The original Jordan 8 came out the same year Stephens was born. 

More than just footwear, Stephens collaborated with Stars and Striped for a 23-piece collection of swimwear and other beachy outfits. Stephens told Harper's Bazaar about the collection, "I wanted to keep things positive by inspiring women to feel confident and like total bosses." Her line includes one-piece swimsuits with mesh detail, gold zebra print bikinis, and eye-catching beach coverups. 

Although every professional tennis player is Sloane Stephens' competition, she still has a cute relationship with American star Madison Keys. The two squared off against one another in the 2017 US Open final, which turned Stephens into a grand slam tournament winner. After the hard-fought match, the two embraced for a long time on court, clearly emotional in each other's arms. In the on-court interview after the face off (via USA Today), both women exchanged positive words. Keys called Stephens "truly one of my favorite people," and Stephens volleyed back, "Maddie is one of my bestest friends on tour, if not my best friend on tour." She went on to say that it was a dream to play her pal in the finals and added, "I told her I wished it could be a draw because I wish we could have both won."

Both women are only a few years apart in age — at the time of the final, Stephens was 24 years old and Keys 22. The two spent a lot of time with each other while ascending the ranks in tennis. In an interview for Nike, Stephens said of Keys, "I feel like we've just grown up with each other, so we've seen each other grow as humans — moving to new houses, buying furniture, new boyfriends ... we've had a lot of the same things happen."

When she was a young girl, Sloane Stephens met another future superstar athlete who would eventually become her significant other. Long before he became one of the best players on the US men's national soccer team, Jozy Altidore was Stephens' elementary school classmate — and they weren't exactly chummy. "He used to bully me," Stephens once told YouTuber Avonna Wilson (via Good Housekeeping). According to the tennis player, the older Altidore once "dumped me in the trash can and my mom had to come pick me up from school." Then in 2016, the pair reunited and started dating. When Stephens' mom found out, she had but one question: "The boy who threw you in the trash can?"

Altidore was a big help after Stephens' foot injury. She told The New York Times that while recovering, "he kept it really light for me, so I was never too sad." And she added of Altidore, "I don't think there's been a more positive person in my corner that I've had." This included watching her matches in person. He admitted to Hot 97 that watching Stephens play tennis was more nerve-wracking than playing in a soccer match. And in their personal life, Altidore explained he and Stephens prefer more "chill, laid back" moments together.

In 2021, Stephens shared huge news that she and Altidore were engaged. In a post on Twitter, Stephens showed off her ring and captioned, "Forever yes."

Well before winning the US Open, Sloane Stephens decided to give back to others. "In 2013, I founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation with a primary goal of enhancing the quality of life for youth, through exposure to tennis as a basis for life-long learning, and healthy lifestyle choices," she said on the organization's website. The charitable foundation allowed Stephens to share the sport she loved with those who may not have had a chance. "Obviously, tennis is not a very diverse sport, so being able to put racquets in kids' hands who normally would not [have them] ... that was, like, a big reason why I started my foundation," Stephens explained to Nike. And she explained that teaching children would set the foundation for a healthy lifestyle because tennis is a lifelong sport.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major disruption to the charity. But Stephens was able to adapt and continue to support the communities. This included providing contactless meal pickups because "a lot of our kids depend on school breakfasts and lunches," she told Bustle. And her mom became involved in the effort as well. Stephens detailed how her mom goes above and beyond to provide support, like when she drove "to Compton to drop off lavender essential oils for a kid who was having trouble sleeping." According to Stephens, her mom's act wasn't surprising because "that's the kind of person she is."

According to her WTA profile, Sloane Stephens' career winnings from her tennis career was over $16 million as of 2021. All by the time she was 28 years old. And more than just winning prize money for her incredible performances, Stephens had "lucrative endorsements from the likes of Nike, Under Armour, Rolex and Mercedes-Benz," per Dirt. Combining her endorsements, collaborations, and tennis winnings, Stephens' net worth was an estimated $20 million as of 2021, via Celebrity Net Worth.

When Stephens went on J.P. Morgan's "Kneading Dough" webseries to talk about money management in 2021, she shared she has made financial moves and investments with her future in mind. "Right now my biggest goal is to reach the goal of financial freedom, I would say, for myself, so that when I retire, I can live freely," she said.

One of those financial moves happens to be investing in real estate. Over the span of a few years, Stephens sold and scooped up a handful of incredible homes in Los Angeles County. Her biggest purchase came in 2021 when she paid a reported $6.9 million for a home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles — and evidently, that price tag was a bargain. According to Dirt, previous owner Josh Schwartz — the creator of "The O.C." and "Gossip Girl" TV series — reportedly bought the property for $8.1 million in 2020. Not a bad score.