Sloane Stephens calls out ATP & WTA for forcing players to compete despite mental and physical struggles
Sloane Stephens criticized both the ATP and WTA for neglecting player welfare, stating that the tours often pressure players to compete even when they're unfit, with the threat of fines or penalties if they withdraw.
Stephens recently appeared on the Tennis Insider Club, a podcast founded by former WTA World No. 4 Caroline Garcia. The American conversed about several topics including her famous US Open win and her breakthrough 2013 season when she defeated Serena Williams at the Australian Open.
Stephens also opened up about what she feels is a negative aspect of the ATP and the WTA tours. She began by explaining how when she needed a break, she took it, unlike some other players who forced themselves to continue.
“I never pushed myself to be like 'I am going to stick it out for another three weeks just because I need my ranking.' I feel like a lot of players just do that in general," Sloane Stephens said (13:45).
“You are just there because you don’t want to pay the fine, or you’re supposed to be, you entered the tournament and you don’t want to have any more withdrawals. You are like I’m present but mentally I’m not here,” she explained.
Stephens highlighted what she feels is a major issue with the ATP and WTA, criticizing the pressure on players to compete even when unfit.
“I feel like that is one of the bad things about both tours, ATP and WTA, is that you are forced to play even when you are probably not in the best mental capacity or physical shape, or you might be injured and you just arrive because that’s what you are supposed to do," Stephens said.
"That has probably set people back more than anything, not having the freedom or the independence to make this decision," she added.
Sloane Stephens acknowledges she never forced herself to play but that made others judge her choices
Sloane Stephens burst onto the WTA scene in the early 2010s when she made deep runs into tournaments as a teenager and broke into the Top 50. In 2013, she defeated Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals, one of her biggest wins as her compatriot was on a 20-match win streak.
In 2017, Stephens earned her biggest success by winning the US Open. She continued her good form next year by bagging runner-up finishes at the French Open and the WTA Finals. However, since then, Stephens has faced a slump in form.
She has only been able to win two titles in the past six years. Over her career, the 31-year-old has withdrawn from multiple events and she believes having the power to withdraw from events helps her.
“I think that in my career I have done a lot of that, of going 'I’m just not going to go.' I think that has helped me in a way, but also left me open to be judged by people saying why not play?” Stephens said. (14:45)
In 2024, Sloane Stephens owns a 19-22 record in singles and a 13-14 record in doubles. She has won a title each in singles and doubles this year.