Sloane Stephens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sloane Stephens

Stephens at the 2017 Washington Open
Country (sports)	United States
Residence	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Born	(1993-03-20) March 20, 1993 (age 32) Plantation, Florida, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Turned pro	2009
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Kamau Murray, Omar El Kheshen
Prize money	US$18,971,510 28th in all-time rankings
Official website	sloanestephens.com
Singles
Career record	380–284 (57.23%)
Career titles	8
Highest ranking	No. 3 (July 16, 2018)
Current ranking	No. 792 (July 14, 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (2013)
French Open	F (2018)
Wimbledon	QF (2013)
US Open	W (2017)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2018)
Olympic Games	1R (2016)
Doubles
Career record	58–81 (41.73%)
Career titles	1
Highest ranking	No. 63 (September 23, 2024)
Current ranking	No. 237 (July 14, 2025)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	1R (2012,2018)
French Open	1R 2024)
Wimbledon	2R (2017)
US Open	1R (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2024)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2016)
Wimbledon	3R (2018)
US Open	2R (2008, 2012)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	W (2017), record 9–6

Sloane Stephens (born March 20, 1993) is an American professional tennis player. She has been ranked as high as world No. 3 by the WTA. Sloane has won eight singles titles on the WTA Tour, including the 2017 US Open. She has also won one WTA doubles title.

Sloane's parents were both athletes. She started playing tennis in Fresno, California. Later, she moved to Florida to train at a special tennis academy. Sloane became a very good junior player. She reached a junior ranking of world No. 5. In 2010, she won three major girls' doubles titles with her partner Tímea Babos.

When she was 19, Sloane became famous at the 2013 Australian Open. She reached the semifinals and beat world No. 3, Serena Williams. After some ups and downs, she worked with a new coach, Kamau Murray. She then won three WTA titles in early 2016. Her successful year was cut short by a foot injury.

Sloane returned from her injury in mid-2017. She won the US Open in only her fifth tournament back. She was named WTA Comeback Player of the Year for her amazing return. In 2018, she continued her success. She won her first big title at the Miami Open. She also reached another major final at the French Open. She entered the top 10 for the first time and finished as a runner-up at the WTA Finals.

Early Life & Tennis Beginnings

Sloane Stephens was born on March 20, 1993, in Plantation, Florida. Her mother, Sybil Smith, was a top swimmer. Her father, John Stephens, was a professional football player. He played for the New England Patriots.

Sloane was raised by her mother and stepfather, Sheldon Farrell. Her younger half-brother, John Stephens Jr., also plays in the NFL. Sloane didn't talk to her biological father until she was 13. They developed a close relationship. Her stepfather died in 2007, and her biological father died in 2009.

Sloane moved to Fresno in California when she was two. She started playing tennis at age nine. A coach named Francisco González saw her talent. Two years later, she moved to Boca Raton, Florida. She trained at the Evert Tennis Academy. At age 12, she switched to the Nick Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy. She also started homeschooling online.

After her stepfather's death, Sloane and her family moved back to Fresno. She then split her time living in both California and Florida.

Junior Tennis Career

Stephens at the 2009 US Open

Sloane started playing in junior tennis events in 2006 at age 13. Her first big junior result was at the US Open in 2008. She reached the doubles final with Mallory Burdette.

In 2009, Sloane won her first two junior tournaments. These were the USTA International Spring Championships and the Italian Open. She then only played in the junior Grand Slam events. At the French Open, she reached the semifinals. This brought her to a career-high junior ranking of No. 5 in the world.

In 2010, Sloane teamed up with Tímea Babos. They won the doubles title at three major tournaments. They were only the second pair of girls to win three Grand Slam doubles titles in one season. Sloane also reached at least the quarterfinals in singles at these events. Her best singles result was a semifinal at the US Open.

Professional Tennis Journey

2007–2011: Starting Out & Top 100

Stephens at the 2011 Washington Open

Sloane played her first professional events in late 2007. In 2008, she played in her first WTA Tour event, the Miami Open. She also played in the US Open qualifying rounds. In 2008, she won her first professional doubles title in Wichita.

In 2009, Sloane decided to become a professional player. In March 2010, she played in her first WTA Tour main draw at the Indian Wells Open. She won her first main-draw match there. She finished 2010 ranked No. 198.

Sloane kept improving in 2011. She won her first professional singles title in Italy. She then played in her first Grand Slam main draw at the French Open. In August, she reached her first WTA Tour quarterfinal. She also played in her first US Open main draw. She won her first Grand Slam match there. By reaching the third round, Sloane entered the top 100 of the WTA rankings. She was the youngest player in the top 100 at 18 years old.

2012: Teenage Success & Top 50

Stephens at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships

With a better ranking, Sloane played in more tour-level events. She reached the second round at the Australian Open. She also won her first main draw matches at the Miami Open. In April, Sloane made her Fed Cup debut. The United States won the tie.

Sloane reached her first tour semifinal at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. She then had her best Grand Slam result yet, reaching the fourth round at the French Open. She continued this success at Wimbledon, reaching the third round. These results helped her enter the top 50 of the WTA rankings for the first time.

Sloane reached her second WTA semifinal at the Washington Open. She finished the year as the youngest player in the top 50, ranked No. 38.

2013: Major Semifinal & Top 11 Ranking

Sloane started 2013 strong. She reached the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International. The next week, she made it to the semifinals at the Hobart International. At the Australian Open, she was seeded 29th. She reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. She then beat world No. 3, Serena Williams, in a big upset. This was her first win against a top-ten player. Sloane lost in the next match but rose to No. 17.

Stephens at the 2013 US Open

Sloane continued her Grand Slam success. She reached the fourth round at the French Open. She also made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. At the Cincinnati Open, she beat world No. 3, Maria Sharapova. Two weeks later, at the US Open, she lost to Serena Williams in the fourth round.

Sloane finished 2013 at world No. 12. She was one of only three players to reach the second week of all four Grand Slam tournaments that year. She also reached a career-high ranking of No. 11 in October.

2014–2016: Ups & Downs, First Titles, & Injury

Stephens at the 2014 French Open

In 2014, Sloane reached the fourth round at the Australian Open. She also made her first quarterfinal at a big event, the Indian Wells Open. She played for the United States Fed Cup team again. Her best result was reaching the fourth round at the French Open. She ended 2014 ranked No. 37.

Stephens at the 2015 French Open

In 2015, Sloane reached the fourth round at Indian Wells. She also made the quarterfinals at the Miami Open. She upset world No. 15, Venus Williams, at the French Open. She then reached the semifinals at the Eastbourne International.

In August 2015, Sloane won her first WTA title at the Washington Open. She won the tournament without losing a single set. This win brought her back into the top 30. She finished 2015 ranked No. 30.

In 2016, Sloane hired Kamau Murray as her new coach. She won her first tournament with him at the Auckland Open. She won two more titles that year: the Mexican Open and the Charleston Open. At Charleston, she beat world No. 2 Angelique Kerber.

Sloane struggled at the Grand Slam tournaments in 2016. Her best results were reaching the third round at the French Open and Wimbledon. After the 2016 Rio Olympics, she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her left foot. This injury kept her out of play for many months.

2017: Amazing Comeback & US Open Champion

Sloane had foot surgery in January 2017. She couldn't walk without a boot until April. During her recovery, she worked as a broadcaster for the Tennis Channel. She interviewed other tennis players and gave her thoughts on matches.

Stephens at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships

Sloane returned to the WTA Tour in July 2017 at Wimbledon. Her ranking had dropped to No. 336. She lost her first two matches back. However, she showed improvement by reaching the doubles final at Washington.

By August, Sloane's ranking was as low as No. 957. But she then reached the semifinals of two big tournaments: the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open. In each tournament, she beat four top-50 players. These results helped her climb back into the top 100.

Sloane entered the US Open ranked No. 83. She upset No. 10 Dominika Cibulková in the second round. She then reached her first US Open quarterfinal. She defeated Anastasija Sevastova to set up an all-American semifinal against No. 9 Venus Williams. Sloane won a tough match against Venus to reach her first Grand Slam singles final. She then defeated Madison Keys in straight sets to win her first Grand Slam title! She became the lowest-ranked US Open champion ever.

After the US Open, Sloane didn't win another match that season. However, the United States won the Fed Cup final 3–2, giving Sloane her first Fed Cup title. She finished the season ranked No. 13 and was named WTA Comeback Player of the Year.

2018: French Open Finalist & World No. 3

Sloane started 2018 with a losing streak. But she soon returned to form. In March, she won the Miami Open, her first big Premier Mandatory title. She beat three top-ten players at the event. With this win, she entered the top 10 for the first time.

Stephens at the 2018 US Open

Sloane then had her best result at the French Open, reaching the final. In the semifinals, she won against Madison Keys again. She lost the final to world No. 1, Simona Halep. This was Sloane's first loss in a WTA Tour singles final. This amazing run moved her to a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world.

Sloane reached another high-level final at the Canadian Open, losing to Halep again. At the US Open, she lost in the quarterfinals. Sloane finished the season by playing in her first WTA Finals. She won all her group matches. She then reached the final, but lost to Elina Svitolina. She finished the season ranked No. 6, her best year-end ranking.

2019–2021: Challenges & Comebacks

Sloane faced challenges in 2019. She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open. She also made it to the third round at Wimbledon. Her best Grand Slam result was a quarterfinal loss at the French Open. She fell out of the top 20 by the end of the year.

In 2020, Sloane continued to struggle. She lost in the first round of many tournaments. Her record for the year was 1-7 at one point. She showed improvement at the US Open. She reached the third round before losing to Serena Williams. Sloane ended 2020 ranked No. 39.

In 2021, Sloane continued to work hard. She got her first win of the season at the Miami Open. She reached the quarterfinals at the Charleston Open. At the French Open, she surprised ninth seed Karolína Plíšková in the second round. She reached the fourth round there. At Wimbledon, she upset tenth seed Petra Kvitová in the first round. She finished 2021 ranked No. 64.

2022–2024: Winning Again

Sloane started 2022 by winning her seventh WTA singles title. This was at the Abierto Zapopan in Mexico. It was her first title since 2018. She then reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time since 2019. This improved her ranking to No. 47.

In 2023, Sloane reached the fourth round at the French Open for the ninth time. She beat 16th seed Karolina Plíšková along the way.

Stephens serving in Strasbourg in 2024.

In April 2024, Sloane won her eighth WTA Tour singles title. This was at the Rouen Open. She defeated Magda Linette in the final.

World TeamTennis Experience

Sloane has played in World TeamTennis for several seasons. She started in 2009 with the New York Buzz. She also played for the Washington Kastles, Philadelphia Freedoms, and New York Empire. In 2020, she joined the Chicago Smash for their first season. She helped them reach the WTT Playoffs final.

Tennis Rivalries

Sloane vs. Madison Keys

Sloane has a friendly rivalry with her close friend and fellow American, Madison Keys. They have been compared since they were young. Sloane has a 5–2 record against Madison.

Their matches are often important. Sloane beat Madison in the final of the US Open to win her first major title. She also won their match in the semifinals of the 2018 French Open to reach her second Grand Slam final. Madison got her first win against Sloane in 2019. They played three times in 2021, with Sloane winning two of those matches.

Sloane vs. Serena Williams

Sloane was often seen as a possible future top American player, like Serena Williams. Sloane grew up admiring the Williams sisters. Their relationship became a bit strained after their match at the 2013 Australian Open.

Sloane has a 1–6 record against Serena Williams. Her only win against Serena was at the 2013 Australian Open. This win was a big upset and brought Sloane a lot of attention. All their matches have been at high-level tournaments.

Sloane vs. Simona Halep

Sloane and Simona Halep have had some big matches, especially in 2018. Halep has won most of their matches.

Sloane has a 2–7 record against Halep. Sloane won their first two matches in 2012 and 2013. Since then, Halep has won all six of their matches. Their two biggest matches were in 2018, both in finals. Halep won the French Open final against Sloane to win her first Grand Slam title. Halep also won their final at the Canadian Open. Before these finals, Sloane had never lost a final on the WTA Tour.

Playing Style

Sloane Stephens is an all-court player. This means she can play well from anywhere on the court. She has reached the quarterfinals or better at all four major tournaments. Her favorite surface is clay, where she was a finalist at the French Open. However, most of her best wins have been on hard courts, including her US Open and Miami Open titles.

Sloane often plays from behind the baseline. She uses her speed and strength to defend against powerful shots. She is good at turning defense into offense. Sloane also has a strong serve. She can hit first serves very fast. Her shots are often described as having "easy power." She can hit powerful winners with her forehand. Her two-handed backhand is more compact.

Compared to other top American players, Sloane has a more defensive style. Other American players often hit the ball very aggressively. Sloane focuses on building points and confusing her opponents.

Some people have thought Sloane seemed relaxed about losing. But she has also shown she can bounce back from injuries and tough tournaments. She focuses on improving and looking forward to the next matches.

Coaches & Support

Sloane's first tennis instructor was Francisco González. She then trained at the Evert Tennis Academy and later the Nick Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy.

Roger Smith coached Sloane for several years starting in 2009. With him, she became a top junior player and entered the WTA top 100. In 2012, she worked with David Nainkin. Under Nainkin, she had her breakthrough at the 2013 Australian Open. She reached No. 11 in the world.

Sloane then worked with Paul Annacone, who coached famous players like Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. She briefly worked with Thomas Högstedt and then returned to Nick Saviano.

In 2015, Sloane hired Kamau Murray. With Murray, Sloane became one of the best players. She won five of her six titles with him, including the 2017 US Open. She also reached her career-high ranking of No. 3. Sloane and Murray have split and reunited a few times. She is currently working with ATP tennis player Darian King.

Sponsors & Interests

Sloane is sponsored by Nike for her clothing. She uses Head rackets.

After winning the US Open, Sloane gained many new sponsors. These include Mercedes-Benz. She has appeared in ads for Built with Chocolate Milk, which promotes chocolate milk as a recovery drink. She also works with doTerra (essential oils) and Precision Nutrition (diet and exercise). With Colgate, she helps teach children about oral hygiene.

Sloane has also worked with American Express, Listerine, and USANA. She has supported the Connect a Million Minds campaign by Time Warner Cable. This campaign encourages education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Personal Life

Sloane's mother has always supported her tennis career. Sloane remembers her mother believing in her even when an instructor said she might only get a scholarship to a small college. Sloane's maternal grandfather, Noel Smith, came from Trinidad. She calls him her hero and a big influence.

Her favorite player growing up was Kim Clijsters. Sloane was also a fan of the Williams sisters. She has said she has a good relationship with them.

Sloane works with Soles4Souls, a charity that gives shoes to children in need. She also started the Sloane Stephens Foundation. This foundation builds tennis courts and creates after-school tennis programs for students. It also offers tutoring. The foundation helps kids in places like Compton, Fresno, and Fort Lauderdale.

Sloane married United States national soccer team player Jozy Altidore on January 1, 2022. They were childhood friends.

In late 2017, Sloane graduated from Indiana University East with a degree in communications studies. She finished her degree while recovering from her foot surgery. She believes this time away from tennis helped her gain a new perspective. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree in December 2020 from DeVry University.

Career Highlights

Grand Slam Finals

Sloane has played in two Grand Slam singles finals. She won one and was runner-up in the other.

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2017	US Open	Hard	Madison Keys	6–3, 6–0
Loss	2018	French Open	Clay	Simona Halep	6–3, 4–6, 1–6

Year-End Championships

Sloane reached one WTA Finals championship match.

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2018	WTA Finals, Singapore	Hard (i)	Elina Svitolina	6–3, 2–6, 2–6

Grand Slam Performance Timeline

This table shows Sloane's results at the four major Grand Slam tournaments over the years.

See also

In Spanish: Sloane Stephens para niños