Sloane Stephens, the former US Open Champion who made headlines by defeating Venus Williams in a spectacular fashion, recently delivered an emotionally charged message to her fans. This comes in the wake of a distressing injury that has forced her to withdraw from the highly anticipated Indian Wells tournament.
Stephens rose to prominence after a stunning victory against Venus Williams, which propelled her towards her triumphant finish at the US Open. Prior to these remarkable achievements, she also graced the French Open as a finalist. However, her journey to the top wasn’t without adversity. Before tasting the sweet fruits of victory, Stephens had weathered through a challenging period of injury that saw her foot strapped to a boot for prolonged periods.
The tennis prodigy, known for her agility and tenacity on the court, had been treading on thin ice post the Rio Olympics in 2016. Following a disappointing loss to Eugenie Bouchard in the opening round, she had to take an extended 10-month break from the sport due to a severe injury.
After her absence, she revealed that she was grappling with a stress fracture that necessitated surgery on her left foot. Despite this setback, she made a remarkable recovery and went on to win her first Grand Slam in New York. However, the shadow of her injury continues to loom over her career. At 31, it appears the injury slump hasn’t entirely left her, taking a toll on her participation in the Indian Wells campaign.
On March 8, Stephens shared with her followers on social media that a right leg injury would sideline her from the BNP Paribas Open. This unfortunate development implies a potential fall in her WTA rankings. She had received a wildcard for the Masters 1000 event and was expected to face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
In an Instagram post, the American tennis star expressed her disappointment, stating, “Got a little boo-boo on my foot again. Setbacks are never easy—physically or emotionally—but I trust the universe to guide me in the right direction.” Despite the setback, she remains optimistic about her return to the court.
Stephens’ recent performance has been a rough ride. She has been on a losing streak since July 2024, her last victory being a singles match at Wimbledon against Elsa Jacquemot. As the former World No. 3, now ranked No. 69, Stephens has suffered consecutive losses in every singles match this year, leading to early exits in Auckland, Melbourne, and Mexico.
However, she found some respite in doubles, reaching the semifinals at the ASB Classic alongside Clara Tauson. But her overall performance has been lackluster, leaving her in a challenging position. Despite the odds, she continues to carry a hopeful outlook for her future.
During her infamous lay-off in 2016, Stephens made the best use of her time off the court by contributing to community service. Her foundation played a significant role in keeping her spirits high. “When I was injured, no one cared what I was doing and had no interest in me whatsoever,” Stephens remarked. “I worked on my foundation every day.”
Her current performance has attracted criticism, but Stephens remains undeterred. Responding to the backlash and calls for her retirement, she said, “If these people are still paying me, I’m not going. I think people don’t realize that if someone was paying you a lot of money, you wouldn’t quit your job. You wouldn’t leave your job.”
As of now, her focus is on recovery and regaining her former glory. If things proceed as planned, this break could be a turning point for Stephens to rediscover her winning streak. Will Sloane Stephens claim another title this season? Only time will tell.