US Open champion who made $18M in prizes now | Sports News

Sloane Stephens as soon as ruled the tennis world after capturing the 2017 US Open title and reaching the French Open last in 2018, accumulating practically $19 million in singles prize money alongside the way in which.

But eight years on, the American tennis sensation, now simply 32, who was sidelined from Wimbledon this 12 months resulting from harm, has skilled a dramatic plunge in the WTA world rankings to 902nd place, a stark distinction to her career-high third place in 2018. Since reaching the head of her profession with that 2017 US Open Grand Slam triumph, success on tennis’s greatest levels has turn into more and more uncommon.

Stephens, who serves as an inspiration to Coco Gauff, made it to the ultimate at Roland-Garros the 12 months after her US Open victory, reached the US Open quarterfinals in 2018, and superior to the French Open quarterfinals in 2019.

Following that period, Stephens endured a wait till 2022 earlier than reaching one other Grand Slam quarterfinal, with that achievement as soon as again coming in the French capital.

The majority of Stephens’ Grand Slam campaigns have concluded in the opening and second rounds, with the American competing solely on the Australian Open this 12 months earlier than being absent from Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

A foot harm necessitated a two-month hiatus earlier than the French Open, inflicting Stephens to plummet past the highest 300 and consequently forfeit direct qualification to the event’s primary draw or qualifying rounds.

SW19 additionally arrived too early for Stephens’ restoration, however she is going to make her return to New York in a media function as half of ESPN’s broadcast group for 2025’s last Grand Slam. Stephens views broadcasting as far more than simply a secondary pursuit.

“Yes, I did the interviews. Yes, I did the desk,” she mentioned. “But I also learned so much about myself. From the jump, I said if I’m doing this, I’m doing it all the way. I was gonna bring the looks, bring the energy, be a team player, speak on what I know, and most importantly, just be me.”

Stephens continues to harbor goals of returning to competitors. She’s focusing intensively on her rehabilitation after sustaining a foot harm.

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“My current fitness goal is to get out of the boot and get back strong,” she revealed during a latest interview.

“My favourite move in the gym that makes me feel strong and empowered is doing pull-ups,” she continued. “It makes me feel really cool.”

During the US Open preparations, Stephens additionally mentioned her advocacy for athletes pursuing fertility remedies.

Stephens selected to protect her eggs on two separate events, making certain she may begin a household after retiring from skilled tennis.

“I’m always the one that they come to to be like, ‘What happened? What did you do? Who did you use?'” Stephens defined to CNN Sports. “I think the conversations have now become even more open, which is amazing.

“Everyone’s talking about it, everybody’s sharing their journeys as a result of it is serving to all of us perceive what everybody’s gone via so we will make the best-informed selections.”