"My life was about to fall off" - Sloane Stephens on feeling 'lost' and wanting to stop playing after incredible US Open title win
Sloane Stephens has laid bare the difficulties she faced after winning the 2017 US Open. According to Stephens, she would have taken a break from playing after her resounding success in New York. However, her decision to continue competing despite physical problems stemmed from her concerns of being penalized by the WTA for not featuring in its mandatory events.
In mid-2016, Sloane Stephens was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her left foot. She eventually underwent surgery, which kept her out of action for almost a year. The Florida native made her comeback at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships, and then played at the Washington Open, the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open before heading to the US Open.
Stephens' results spanning Wimbledon and Washington were disappointing. However, she reached the semifinals of both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open. Entering the 2017 US Open as the World No. 83 and on a protected ranking to start the hardcourt Major in the main draw, Stephens would go on to win the event, beating compatriot Madison Keys in the final in straight sets.
Following her title triumph at Flushing Meadows, Sloane Stephens continued to play but endured disappointing results, which continued into the next season. Another surprise title-winning campaign came soon, this time at the Miami Open. Her results dipped once again in the buildup to the 2018 French Open, but at the claycourt Major itself, Stephens once again raised her game and managed to reach the final.
However, she could not pull off another shock: Grand Slam triumph, as the then-World No. 1 Simona Halep defeated her in the final at Roland Garros. Recently, Stephens recalled this period of her life during an appearance on the Tennis Insider Club podcast. The 31-year-old remembered how she was confused in the aftermath of her US Open success in 2017.
"I think I was a little bit lost (after the 2017 US Open title) because I was like, 'what am I going to do now?' and I was like, 'I don't know what there is to do', but obviously, after the US Open, I was injured, but I kept playing. I just was like playing, playing, playing." (at 29:53)
The former World No. 3 went on to reflect on her participation in mandatory events despite her physical struggles because she was worried that she would get fined by the WTA if she didn't feature in them.
"Obviously, I had won (the US Open) from no ranking to inside the top 15, and then, not to offend them 1000s, the mandatories, which I had entered on my protected (ranking), I couldn't pull out of. So I'm going to have a go because otherwise I'll get fined and all of these things. It was an up and down journey. Like, I definitely would have stopped playing after the US Open."
The Floridian then recalled her series of first-round losses followed by her positive results at the 2018 Miami Open and the French Open the same year. However, she admitted that at one point, her body was simply unable to keep up with the rigorous demands of pro tennis.
"I think I lost nine first rounds in a row, but my life was about to fall off. My knee was bad. And then, not winning any matches and then I won Miami and then (reached) finals of the French Open. Like I was still playing well. I was happy. Things were going great. I just was like, injured. I just couldn't figure out why my body was letting me down, but of course, I hadn't played throughout the year and my body was like, 'girl, what are you doing?'"
Earlier this year, Stephens had spoken up about her heartbreak at her 2018 French Open final loss to Simona Halep.
Sloane Stephens was left in dismay by her French Open 2018 final loss
The 2018 French Open final initially seemed to be going in Sloane Stephens' favor. The Florida native found herself in pole position for the prestigious claycourt Major, having established a set and a break advantage over Simona Halep. However, remarkably, the Romanian, who was the World No. 1 at the time, bounced back and went on to win the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
During her appearance on The Changeover Podcast earlier this year, Stephens recalled how she was inconsolable for a week following her loss to Halep at Roland Garros.
"The French Open is like the only tournament I've ever wanted to win. It's been my best Slam, I've made fourth round or up to like the second week of the last 12 or 10 years something like that. It's been my best Slam with most matches and I just always wanted to win there and when I didn't it was heartbreaking, I cried for like a week, it was like devastating."
Right now, Sloane Stephens is the World No. 75 in singles. So far this season, she has won one WTA Tour-level title, the Open de Rouen, and has a 19-22 win-loss record.