Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, born March 20, 1993, is an American professional tennis player who has reached a career-high WTA singles ranking of world No. 3 and a doubles ranking of world No. 63. Best known for winning the 2017 US Open, Stephens has earned eight WTA Tour-level singles titles and one WTA doubles title, and was the runner-up at the 2018 French Open.

Stephens was born in Plantation, Florida, to Sybil Smith and John Stephens. Her mother was the first African-American woman to be named a first-team All-American swimmer in Division I history, while her father was an NFL Pro Bowl running back for the New England Patriots. Raised by her mother and stepfather Sheldon Farrell in Fresno, California, she has two younger half-brothers, John Stephens Jr. and Shawn Farrell. Her stepfather died from cancer in 2007, and her biological father died in a 2009 car crash.

Stephens began tennis at age nine in Fresno under coach Francisco González before relocating to Boca Raton, Florida, to train at the Evert Tennis Academy and later the Nick Saviano High Performance Tennis Academy. On the ITF Junior Circuit, she reached a career-high ranking of world No. 5 and won three major girls' doubles titles in 2010 alongside Tímea Babos.

Stephens turned professional in October 2009 and made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the 2010 Indian Wells Open. In 2011, she won her first pro singles title at the Camparini Gioielli Cup and broke into the top 100 after reaching the US Open third round. By 2012, she reached the French Open fourth round and Wimbledon third round, finishing the year ranked world No. 38.

Stephens broke through at the 2013 Australian Open, reaching the semifinals after defeating world No. 3 Serena Williams. That year, she reached the second week of all four majors, including the French Open fourth round, Wimbledon quarterfinals, and US Open fourth round. She also defeated world No. 3 Maria Sharapova at the Cincinnati Open and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 11.

After falling outside the top 25 at the end of 2015, Stephens partnered with coach Kamau Murray, winning three WTA titles in early 2016 before a foot injury halted her season for several months.

Returning in mid-2017, Stephens won the US Open in her fifth tournament back and was named WTA Comeback Player of the Year. In 2018, she won the Miami Open, reached the French Open final, entered the top 10, and finished as runner-up at the WTA Finals.