Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, others send Sloane Stephens their wishes as American celebrates 31st birthday with win at Miami Open
Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Billie Jean King, and others recently sent their best wishes to Sloane Stephens, who celebrated her 31st birthday on Wednesday, 20th March.
The 2017 US Open Champion rang in her birthday with a scintillating win over former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber, in what was the only first-round match-up between past Grand Slam champions at the 2024 Miami Open. Stephens sealed the match 6-2, 6-3, winning 70% points behind her first serve and breaking her opponent four times.
"A very great day at the office. I feel like I had the biggest party ever, and you guys all came out," Stephens said in the postmatch interview.
The American took to social media after the win and reminded everybody that it was her birthday.
"It’s me the Birthday Girl 💕👸🏾," Stephens wrote in the caption.
A host of stars from women's tennis and the sporting fraternity at large responded to the post with their wishes for Stephens.
World No. 3 and defending US Open Champion, Coco Gauff, quickly chimed in with a wish.
"Happy birthday 🎉," Gauff wrote.
Compatriot Madison Keys followed suit and sent birthday greetings to her good friend.
"Birthday queen ❤," Keys commented.
Others to wish her were fellow American tennis player Taylor Townsend, American alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn, and Frances Tiafoe's girlfriend Ayan Broomfield.
"Happy birthday Sloaneyyyy ❤🙌🏾," Townsend exclaimed.
"Happy birthday!!" Vonn wrote.
"Happy birthday!!!!" Broomfield commented.
Women's tennis legend Billie Jean King also took to social media to wish Stephens. King posted an archived photo of them at an event alongside Canadian star Leylah Fernandes with a caption that read:
"Happy birthday to the 2017 @usopen women's singles champion, @SloaneStephens!"
Sorana Cristea awaits Sloane Stephens in R2 at the Miami Open
After comfortably navigating through her tricky first-round encounter against three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber, Sloane Stephens will now take on 19th Sorana Cristea in round two of the 2024 Miami Open.
The pair have already met twice on tour this year. Cristea won their first match 6-3, 6-2, in the second round of the Qatar Open. Stephens avenged that loss in Indian Wells a couple of weeks back winning 6-0, 7-5.
They have met four times in total with their head-to-head currently even split at 2 apiece.