Sloane Stephens, born in Plantation, Florida, seemed destined for athletic achievement from the jump. Her mother, Sybil Smith, was an All-American swimmer at Boston University, while her father, John Stephens, was an NFL running back. Taking up tennis at the age of nine, Sloane quickly progressed in the sport, attending the Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy and showing promise at the junior level. Becoming a professional in 2009 at the age of 16, Stephens has steadily risen up the ranks.
Defeating Serena Williams in the semifinals of the Australian Open at just 19 years old, and rising to as high as No. 11 in the world, Stephens has shown to be one of the preeminent talents in tennis today. Her resume includes wins at the US Open, Miami Open, ASB Classic, Abierto Telcel Open, the Volvo Car Open, and the City Open, as well as an appearance in the French Open Final.
Off the court accolades include a 2018 ESPY Award for Best Female Tennis Player, a Jordan and Nike Court sneaker collaboration for the 2019 US Open, and an appearance in the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Sloane is also a philanthropist. She founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013 to improve opportunities for underserved children through education, fitness and sport, leveling the playing field for youth who otherwise would not have access to safe spaces for play and learning.
Outside of tennis and philanthropy, Stephens boasts a number of fun facts. She is an avid bingo player with a passion for beauty, music and fashion. She once enjoyed a private Lionel Richie concert, and, because her family owned a funeral home, as a young kid she wanted to be an embalmer, not a tennis player!
