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2017 Us Open champion Sloane Stephens admits tennis has given her a nice life and that's one of the main reasons why she is using her position to help others. Stephens, 29, launched the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013.
The main goal of Stephens' foundation is to make the game more accessible for those who may not be in a position to cover all the costs and expenses. Stephens, a Grand Slam champion and a former top-3 player, has enjoyed a successful career and has lived many great moments over the course of her career.
“I always say tennis has given me such an incredible opportunity to do all these amazing things. I’ve met presidents. I’ve traveled the world. Tennis has been my vehicle for that. I’ve always loved to work in my community and I’d love to give back and give people those same opportunities,” Stephens told Vanity Fair.
Stephens: Tennis has given me so much, now it's up to me to give back
Stephens' foundation has provided students with over 50,000 hours of tennis lessons. “Tennis is a very hard sport to get into. You need a racket.
You need courts. You need coaches. It discourages a lot of parents and kids. Tennis has given me so much—and being able to offer that to someone’s child through sport and education is really important," Stephens explained.
Meanwhile, Stephens is preparing for the 2023 season. In 2022, Stephens enjoyed some bright moments, such as winning her first title since 2018. In early 2022, Stephens made it all the way in Guadalajara. In late May and early June, Stephens enjoyed a strong run at the French Open as she made the quarterfinal before losing to Cori Gauff.
Now, Stephens is preparing for the 2023 season and the upcoming Australian swing. Stephens didn't enjoy a strong Australian Open run in 2022, losing to Emma Raducanu in the first round. It remains to be seen if Stephens can do better at the Australian Open in 2023.