Sloane Stephens: ‘It takes some time to seek out your groove once more … and get again to the place I wished to be’

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After lacking final 12 months’s US Open – and far of 2025 – on account of setback, Sloane Stephens has discovered her tennis footing once more.

Earlier this month, she defeated then-No. 24 Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-4 within the second spherical of the Cincinnati Open. It was a giant conquer for Stephens, who performed solely 5 matches final 12 months on account of a stress fracture in her proper foot.

She will compete towards Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Monday within the first spherical of the 2026 US Open. 

“It takes a while to find your groove again and find the tennis you want to play and get back to where I wanted to be,” Stephens stated. “And to finally be playing some really good tennis is always a good thing. But also, to be doing it in the U.S., in front of home crowds – it’s incredibly special.”

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the end defeated Stephens 7-5, 7-5 within the third spherical of the Cincinnati Open. Before their match, nonetheless, she stated Stephens and different American gamers are tough to beat of their residence nation.

“It’s never easy to play Americans in the U.S,” Kostyuk stated. “I think they always bring their best tennis here.” 

Stephens is unseeded on this 12 months’s US Open, as she was in 2017 when she received the ladies’s title. Back then, she defeated Anastasija Sevastova within the quarterfinals, Venus Williams within the semifinals and Madison Keys within the ultimate.

Stephens seems ahead to recapturing a few of that magic.

“It’s really fulfilling and exciting to be able to go back to a place where I’ve played some of my best tennis,” she stated. “As an American playing the US Open swing [matches in the United States leading up to the Open], when you’re having good results, there’s … no better feeling, [there are] no better crowds to play in front of.”

Stephens’ preparation for this 12 months’s occasion is a bit completely different than it was a decade in the past – and even in 2018, when she reached her highest rating of No. 3 on the earth.

“I think it’s more of just — I’m a lot older than I was then,” she stated with a chuckle. “I take care of myself differently, I practice differently. Those things are a little bit different. But I think for the most part, the routines are the same. The energy, the effort are pretty much the same.”

A major change since Stephens’ final US Open conquer is that Black girls have develop into regulars on skilled courts. She stated that’s the form of progress her nonprofit Sloane Stephens Foundation needs to assist create.

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“For American tennis in general, it’s amazing, but from a global perspective – because tennis is such a global sport – to see, Black and brown girls play tennis and not only play tennis, but win. … I think it’s just incredibly important because that gives more kids that look like us something to look for in tennis,” she stated.

On Sunday, she acquired the United States Tennis Association Foundation’s Serving Up Dreams Award for her philanthropic work. The award acknowledges individuals who advance the muse’s mission of utilizing tennis, training and mentorship to assist younger individuals from under-resourced communities.

The USTAF stated the Sloane Stephens Foundation served 7,500 younger individuals in 2025 by means of 1,500 hours of tennis, training and life abilities programming.

“Playing tennis is my job, but my passion outside of that is helping people,” Stephens stated. “I’ve learned that as I’ve gotten older, and I’ve been able to lean more into it.” 

Recent winners of the award embody retired tennis stars Chris Evert, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. At age 33, Stephens is the primary lively competitor to obtain the glory because it was first offered in 2015, the USTAF stated.

“Sloane shows up,” USTAF CEO Ginny Ehrlich stated. “When Sloane isn’t on the road competing, she is at the sites working with the young people, working with her mother, who runs the Sloane Stephens Foundation day to day, really showing up and being there.”

Stephens was 20 years previous when she established her basis in 2013. It now has areas in Compton and Fresno, California, and Miami Gardens, Florida, and it’s a part of the USTAF’s nationwide community of organizations.

She acquired the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award on the 2025 ESPYS, and TIME Magazine named her to its TIME100 listing of essentially the most influential individuals in philanthropy in May.

“She started very early on in life and her playing career working to ensure that other young people in communities have access to what has given her the life she has,” Ehrlich stated. 

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Stephens would possibly see a well-recognized face on the Open. Venus Williams, at age 46, misplaced her first-round singles match early Monday however will compete in doubles later this week along with her sister Serena.

Stephens stated Venus Williams impressed her to assist share the contest with younger Black youngsters and, in spite of everything these years, continues to encourage her on the courtroom.

“I don’t know how she’s still out there, but I think for her, when you watch her play, you go to tournaments, she’s still playing in front of packed crowds,” Stephens stated. “People want to see her play. People want to go. They want their kids to see her play.”

Cliff Brunt has been a sportswriter for the reason that ’90s, together with a run of greater than 20 years with The Associated Press. He is an Omaha North High Viking of Distinction who acquired Creighton University’s Alumni Merit Award in 2025.