Former Tennis Champion Sloane Stephens plays in Evansville!

By Dean Hall

The year was 2005 after serving for almost 9 years as a United States Air Force Academy Chaplain, I relocated to Boca Raton, FL and became a tennis instructor.   One of my first days on the job I heard a tennis ball being struck.  I could immediately tell by the sound whoever was hitting the ball was good.  As I followed the sound to another set of courts, I approached a then-12-year-old Sloane Stephens.  That started a connection and relationship with Sloane and her mother Sybil for the next 4 years until she turned pro at age 16.  Sloane’s mother Sybil, a former all-American swimmer at Boston College and graduate of Harvard and was the driving force behind Sloane’s tremendous talent and professional development.  I had the pleasure of supporting Sloane in small ways like setting up a hitting session for her at the tennis club where I coached, a warmup session prior to her playoff tournament for her first French Open tournament and several other interactions. 

After relocating back home to Evansville I was proud to watch Sloane win the US Open in 2017.  However, I remember being disappointed that she wasn’t the “RAVE” that comes along with the US Open title.  Typically, the winner of the US Open is the hottest commodity on the planet – appearing on many late-night shows and the spokesperson for brands. Her endorsements paled in comparison.  (I know that Sloane nor Sybil would have ever made any issue or even mention of what seems to be a disparity in lucrative endorsement deals for players of color). Endorsement income from the US Open is usually substantial enough for the player to be set for life!   Thankfully Venus, Serena, Sloane Stephens, and several others have paved the way for players like Coco Gauff to earn more in endorsements. 

Sloane Stephens recently competed in Evansville on her comeback quest.  After battling several injuries that hampered her competitiveness she has reemerged.  The usual motivation for a comeback is money and given Sloane’s considerable and proven talent, there is money on the table.  However, it is a tremendous grind.  Sloane is still young enough (33 yrs old) and seasoned enough (former world #3) to be competitive if she can recapture the ball striking that made her a champion.  At one time, Sloane had one of the most powerful forehands in women’s tennis.  If Sloane can improve her ranking to at least the top 100 it will mean she will be eligible to play in all the Major tournaments which will give her at least an opportunity for lightning to strike again!  Although Sloane lost a tough 3 set match in Evansville to the number 1 seed who is ranked #80 WTA (World Tennis Association), just a week later she defeated seeded player in Memphis.  Off the court, Sloane fosters the development of underserved youth with a partnership with the USTA (US Tennis Association) called the Sloane Stephens Foundation.  She offers youth support in tennis, swimming, education, and mental wellness arenas.  You go Sloane!  Love you!