“If someone had told me then that I would win the US Open, ‘It’s impossible,’ I would say,” said Sloane Stephens seven years back. Her improbable 2017 triumph began at age nine, when she started training at Florida’s top academies. She shone as a junior, reaching world No. 5 and winning three junior Grand Slam doubles titles by 2010. Turning professional in 2009, she debuted on the WTA tour in 2010, claimed her first ITF title in 2011, and soon became the youngest Top 100 player. Her breakthrough came in 2013 with a stunning SFs run at the Australian Open, where she defeated Serena Williams. The same year, she reached the QFs at Wimbledon. 4 years later, she finally clinched her first slam at home. Though her 2025 season has been hit by an ankle injury, Sloane still finds joy in looking back and smiling.
At the 2017 US Open, Stephens was not a favorite for the women’s singles title. She entered the hardcourt Major ranked World No. 83, having just returned to the WTA Tour after 11 months out with injury and surgery. But she dispatched Roberta Vinci, Dominika Cibulková, Ashleigh Barty, Julia Goerges, Anastasija Sevastova, and Venus Williams to set up a final against close friend Madison Keys. In the final, Stephens was unstoppable, winning 6-3, 6-0 to claim her first major title.
During her winner’s speech, Stephens has even made a mention of the photos of the past winners, “Everyone has the cutest photos on the wall in here with this trophy and that’s what I remember seeing most,” Stephens said. Albeit she was a little worried about her own photograph being taken at the time, worried about looking sweaty in her own photograph. But now, eight years on, it seems like she’s happy with the choice.
On Tuesday, April 22, the American posted a selfie on her Instagram Story. The 32-year-old smiled at the camera, with a large photo of her hoisting the 2017 US Open triumph in the background. She captioned the post: “Hi pretty girl .” It was a sweet moment to recall.
Not to mention, back then, she thought winning a Grand Slam like the US Open was impossible. But after that victory, she broke into the top three. Her improbable triumph also saw her become the lowest-ranked champion at that tournament in the Open era. This victory also made her the first American woman to win the US Open since Lindsay Davenport in 1998 (who was also Madison Keys’ coach), breaking the long streak of Serena and Venus Williams as the only American champions.
The very next year, she reached another major final at the 2018 French Open. There, she lost to Simona Halep, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. However, in recent years, Stephens’ form and ranking have both declined. While she celebrates a past victory, her 2025 season has been derailed by injury. Her latest competitive outing was at the 2025 Merida Open in late February, where she lost in the first round to Petra Martic. It marked her ninth consecutive first-round exit since winning the title in Rouen last April.
It’s not been easy, but the US Open champion knows how to face hard times—and still makes the most of them.
Sloane Stephens opened up about the ups and downs of life
Sloane Stephens has been refreshingly open this season. After an early Australian Open exit, she shared a heartfelt message: “Still here, still living the dream—grateful to still be playing on the world’s biggest stages, in front of my family, best friends, and fans. It will never get old. Thank you for supporting me through it all @AustralianOpen.”
A foot injury from Merida forced her to pull out of Indian Wells and skip defending her Rouen Open title. She’s kept that honest vibe going, too, opening up after withdrawing from Indian Wells: “Setbacks are never easy—physically or emotionally—but I trust the universe to guide me in the right direction. Still waking up grateful every day. I’ll do my best to get back on court soon! Thank you for all the love and encouragement, love you the most .”
By mid-April, her ranking slipped to No. 301—her lowest in eight years—and she’s set to miss the French Open. She’s 0-4 this year. Still, Sloane’s mindset shines through.
She recently reposted an Instagram message: “We’re really on borrowed time. Choose people that chose you, & let everyone else be.” It’s a powerful reminder during hard times, and she seems to live by it. Fans also got a surprise when she appeared on The Tennis Channel with Ben Shelton, fresh out of her boot.
When asked about her comeback, she said, “Me? Honestly, I have no idea. I just got my boot off last week, but tell your dad I miss him because I love seeing him on TV. I don’t know, I’ll see you soon, I’ll definitely see you at the French.”
The clay season’s Grand Slam kicks off on May 25, which gives her ample time to recover and play! However, to play at Roland Garros, she’ll need a wildcard or fight through qualifying since she’s not on the official entry list. But with her boot off and spirits up, don’t count her out just yet. Could the Grand Slam champ be gearing up for a comeback on the Paris clay? Only time will tell!
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