Following a difficult period of early-round losses on the court, the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens is rebuilding her confidence in an unexpected new role off the court.
With injury and inconsistency bringing her 2025 singles campaign to a halt, the 32-year-old is flourishing as a field reporter and commentator.
Sloane Stephens Stepped Away From the Tour to Focus on Foot Injury Recovery
Stephens, previously touted as the future star of American tennis, exploded onto the pro circuit in 2011 and famously reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2013 after upending Serena Williams. She lived up to that initial promise in 2017 with her first Grand Slam victory at the US Open, subsequently reaching a career-high No. 3 in the WTA rankings after the French Open final in 2018.
But her fitness fluctuated over the past few years, hampered by illness, and, among other things, a right ankle problem that currently has her missing Indian Wells. Her 2025 singles record has been particularly tough, continuing a 10-match losing streak that began with her first-round victory at Wimbledon 2024.
During her recovery from foot surgery, Stephens worked on broadcasting duties for the Tennis Channel alongside legends Tracy Austin and Paul Annacone. Subsequently, she worked for TNT Sports’ broadcast of the 2025 French Open in a more prominent, on-screen capacity alongside icons Venus Williams and Andre Agassi.
Stephens Grateful to Fans for Supporting Her Off-Court Switch
Stephens expressed gratitude in an Instagram Story to fans who supported her move to broadcasting. “I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone supporting me on this journey,” she wrote. “I have never felt so much love and support… this is definitely one I will always remember.”
She also posted an update a couple of days later, with her in broadcasting attire, and captioned it with just: “Too much fun.”
In looking back, she wrote a moving message on Instagram, stating, “Full transparency: I walked into this job with zero expectations. I’ve done TV before, but not like this. Long days, late nights, and no idea what I had just signed up for. I knew I’d get to try a bunch of different things and see what stuck, but I didn’t expect it to change me the way it did.”
“Yes, I did the interviews. Yes, I did the desk. 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.”
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She concluded the post proudly calling herself the “Queen of the pivot,” hinting at a strong interest in continuing this new professional path.