Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, recently shared her candid thoughts on her career and the pressures of being a top-ranked tennis player in an interview with fellow player Caroline Garcia on the Tennis Insider Club podcast.
Stephens, who has been open about the challenges she has faced throughout her career, spoke about the unrealistic expectations that are often placed on athletes. She emphasized that not everyone can be the best in the world and that it’s important to recognize and appreciate one’s own strengths and limitations.
“There’s nothing wrong with not being Novak [Djokovic],” Stephens said. “Everyone can’t be No. 1 in the world. I think Iga [Swiatek]’s great, she’s No. 1 in the world, but I do not want that job. There are certain people who thrive in that, but that’s what makes our sport so unique.”
Stephens, who emerged as a teen phenom in 2011, has had a successful career, reaching the third round of the US Open as a wild card that year and stunning Serena Williams to make her first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2013 Australian Open. She overcame a prolonged foot injury to win her maiden major title over fellow American Madison Keys.
However, Stephens has struggled for consistency in recent years, citing injuries and burnout. Despite these challenges, the 31-year-old American remains motivated to continue her career, noting that the unpredictable nature of the tour could still yield her another big result.
“This is a good job to stay at!” Stephens joked. “Obviously, it is a lot of travel and it’s very hectic and it’s hard, and it’s stressful. There’s a lot of adversity happening every single week that nobody ever sees. But what job is going to pay you to put on your tennis dress and play a match on live TV?”
Stephens emphasized the importance of finding ways to make the demanding schedule of a professional tennis player more enjoyable. She shared that she has been making an effort to explore new places and experiences, which has helped her stay motivated and excited about her career.
“This year, I’ve wanted to go to new places and see new things, and do new stuff,” Stephens said. “So, this year, I said, ‘I want to make it Asia so I can see the Great Wall.’ And I feel like that’s helped me more, to have something to look forward to. If you were at a regular desk job for 12 years, you would think it’s terrible. For tennis players, yes, we’re so lucky and fortunate to be able to travel and do all these amazing things, but it’s literally the same tournaments, the same cities. You’ve got to make it fun and keep it exciting.”
