Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens

2009 US Open
Country (sports)	United States
Residence	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Born	(1993-03-20) March 20, 1993 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Turned pro	2009
Retired	Active
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	USA $27,659
Singles
Career record	19–18
Highest ranking	No. 110 (August 15, 2011)
Current ranking	No. 110 (August 15, 2011)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	Q2 (2011)
French Open	1R (2011)
Wimbledon	Q2 (2011)
US Open	Q2 (2010)
Doubles
Career record	9–6
Career titles	1 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 148 (June 6, 2011)
Last updated on: July 7, 2011.

Sloane Stephens (born March 20, 1993) is a rising American professional tennis player. She has had a successful career on the ITF Junior Circuit and is transitioning to playing on the professional level.

Personal life

Stephens was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Sybil Smith (who, in 1988 as a swimmer at Boston University, became the first African-American female to be named First Team All-American in Division I history) and John Stephens, a professional American football player. Stephens had no connection with her father until she was 13, when she began a close over-the-phone friendship with him. John Stephens was killed in a car accident on September 1, 2009, just before the start of the US Open. Stephens attended her father's funeral in Louisiana, but remained entered in the US Open.

In a recent interview, she cited Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Kim Clijsters as her inspirations in tennis.

Junior Tennis

Stephens had a breakthrough on the ITF Junior Circuit in 2008, when at the US Open she finished runner up alongside partner Mallory Burdette. Later at the Grade A Orange Bowl, she made it to the semifinals as a wild card before losing in three sets to compatriot Christina McHale.

Stephens continued her good form in 2009, capturing the singles and doubles titles at Grade 1 USTA International Spring Championships (partnering with Mallory Burdette). Stephens then traveled to Italy where she captured the Grade A Italian Open singles title. The following week, Stephens participated in her first overseas junior Grand Slam, the French Open. As a qualifier Stephens reached the semifinals before losing 5–7 3–6 to eventual champion Kristina Mladenovic.

The following month, Stephens reached the quarterfinals at the junior Wimbledon before losing again to Mladenovic. Thanks to her superior summer on the junior circuit, Stephens reached a career high junior ranking of 5 in the world on August 10, 2009.

Seeded 4th at the junior US Open, Stephens lost in three sets to 14th seed Jana Čepelová. This upset can possibly be attributed to an emotionally draining week after the death of Stephens' father.

At the 2010 Junior Wimbledon Championship Sloane made it to the quarterfinals of the singles and won the doubles title with Tímea Babos, winning a tough three-setter in the final, 6–7 6–2 6–2.

Junior Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 4 finals (3 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome	Year	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponent	Score
Runner-Up	2008	US Open	Hard	Mallory Burdette	Noppawan Lertcheewakarn Sandra Roma	6–0, 6–2
Winner	2010	French Open	Clay	Tímea Babos	Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino María-Teresa Torró-Flor	6–2, 6–3
Winner	2010	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Tímea Babos	Irina Khromacheva Elina Svitolina	6–7(7), 6–2, 6–2
Winner	2010	US Open	Hard	Tímea Babos	An-Sophie Mestach Silvia Njirić	Walkover

Pro Tour

Stephens played her first professional events on the ITF Circuit in late 2007. In spring 2008, Stephens received a qualifying wild card into her first WTA event, the Sony, but lost to Ekaterina Bychkova. During the summer, Stephens won a small ITF doubles tournament with partner Christina McHale. She received a wild card into the US Open qualifying rounds where she defeated seventh seeded Melinda Czink. Stephens then lost in straight sets to Stefanie Vögele.

In 2009, Stephens began the year playing several ITF tournaments with moderate success. She received another qualifying wild card into the Sony Ericsson Open, losing in the first round to Akgul Amanmuradova. In the summer, Stephens received another qualifying wild card into a WTA tournament: the LA Women's Tennis Championships. There Stephens won her first WTA level match against Lenka Wienerová, but fell in the second round of qualifying to Anastasia Rodionova.

During the summer, Stephens played World Team Tennis for the New York Buzz. Stephens' last professional tournament of the 2009 season was at the US Open, where she received a qualifying wild card for the second year in a row. Stephens lost in the first round of qualifying. In October, Stephens turned professional when she signed with BEST.

In an impressive showing, Stephens successfully qualified for the 2010 BNP Paribas Open, where she defeated Lucie Hradecká 7–6 (6), 7–6 (7) in the first round. She then lost in a closely contested match against the defending champion, 12th-seeded Vera Zvonareva 6–4, 7–5.

Stephens made another run at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open where she defeated fellow American Jamie Hampton in the first round to advance to the second round, where she lost to world no.1 and eventual champion, Caroline Wozniacki. The next week, as a wild card entry, she won both matches at the qualifying stage of the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open to qualify for a spot in the main draw.

In May of 2011 Stephens won the $50,000 2011 Camparini Gioielli Cup. It was her first tournament win on the ITF circuit. Stephens then participated in the qualifying draw of the French Open as the 21st seed. She beat Anastasia Pivovarova in the qualifying competition to qualify for the main draw event. She lost to Elena Baltacha in the first round.

At the 2011 Wimbledon Championships Stephens was the 12th seed in qualifying. She lost in the second round to Nina Bratchikova. Following her improved performance at Wimbledon, she reached a career-high ranking of World No. 125 on July 4, 2011.

Stephens was given a wild card in San Diego, Stephens made her first WTA quarterfinals debut where she defeated Julia Gorges en route. She loss to Andrea Petkovic in the quarterfinals.

External links

• Sloane Stephens at the Women's Tennis Association
• Template:ITF junior profile