“She is bringing me out of doubles retirement” - Sloane Stephens on partnering Alycia Parks
Sloane Stephens has been in the news lately for her hilarious interview with friend and compatriot Madison Keys at the Dallas Open.
The two Americans faced off in a Women’s Tennis Classic exhibition match on Sunday, and Keys came out as the winner in a close encounter. The exhibition match also kicked off the Dallas Open ATP 250 tournament.
Stephens is currently enjoying some time off before heading to Mexico for the Merida Open Akron on February 20, 2023. On Wednesday she took to her social media account to indulge in an AMA (Ask me Anything) activity, saying that it had been a while since she spoke to her fans.
“Been a while…..Ask me Anything,” she wrote.
A fan asked if Stephens would be playing doubles this year, and the 29-year-old revealed that she would be playing a few doubles tournaments alongside compatriot Alycia Parks. She then joked that Parks was bringing her out of doubles retirement and said that she was excited to play with her.
“Yes!! I am going to play with @alycia.parks at some tournaments this year! She is bringing me out of doubles retirement!” she wrote, adding, “I’m excited to play with my girl.”
Another fan wanted to know whether the American’s compatriot and friend Madison Keys' zodiac sign was Aquarius. Stephens, who was seen having a lot of fun with Keys over the Dallas Open inaugural weekend, simply responded in the affirmative while tagging Keys.
“Pretty muchhhh @madisonkeys,” she wrote with a laughing smiley.
One curious fan wondered if the 2017 US Open Champion was married. Stephens she replied that her husband was her best friend.
Stephens was childhood friends with her husband, soccer star Jozy Altidore, and married him on January 1, 2022 after dating him for several years.
“Yes!!! To my best friend!!!” she wrote.
When Sloane Stephens met Sloane Stephens
2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens was at the Dallas Open to play an inaugural exhibition match against her friend and fellow American Madison Keys. Before the exhibition match, the two tennis stars met young fans from an organization called Buddy Up Tennis, which serves children with Down Syndrome and special needs.
During the interaction, the 29-year-old met a young fan who was also named Sloane Stephens. When little Sloane’s mother was pregnant, she noticed there was a player with the same name as her still-unborn daughter. Ever since that, the whole family began supporting Stephens.
The American tennis star thanked the Dallas Open and Buddy Up Tennis on her social media and played a rally with little Sloane, who also got to escort big Sloane on court for the exhibition match.
“Had the best time meeting Sloane Stephens! Thank you @DALOpenTennis & @BuddyUpForLife for making this happen,” she wrote.
twitter.com/DALOpenTennis/…
@SloaneStephens thrilled a little fan from @BuddyUpForLife named (get this!) Sloane Stephens. Had the best time meeting Sloane Stephens! Thank you @DALOpenTennis & @BuddyUpForLife for making this happen ♥️ twitter.com/DALOpenTennis/…
"I love kids, and I think sharing something incredibly special like our name, there's very few Sloanes in the world, and very few Sloane Stephens," said the Grand Slam winner. "I don't know if there's more of us, but to be able to meet another is very cool and to be able to share that experience is pretty awesome."