Renowned tennis player Sloane Stephens has recently announced her intention to retire from professional tennis after winning another Grand Slam title. In an interview with Mike Freeman of USA Today, the 30-year-old emphasized her seriousness towards this goal and her eagerness to conclude her career on a high note.
Stephens openly shared the challenges of aging in the sport, acknowledging that at the age of 30, she may face obstacles in winning the French Open. However, she expressed her belief in having a considerable amount of tennis left to play, making winning another Grand Slam event a worthy aspiration.
During a Cinema Session appearance at the Australian Open in January, Stephens humorously stated that she would retire immediately upon achieving another Grand Slam trophy, affirming that she would never play tennis again.
The 2017 U.S. Open champion is aware of the potential obstacles she may encounter, as her performance at the Grand Slam level has been subpar in recent years. However, historical data indicates that the French Open has been her most successful tournament, having reached the fourth round in 2012, finished as the runner-up in 2018, and made it to the quarterfinals in 2019 and 2022.
Considering her history at the French Open, it is conceivable that Stephens could achieve an ideal conclusion to her career by securing one last title before retiring from the sport.
As an accomplished athlete, Stephens’ perspective on her career has provided an intriguing insight into what the future may hold. Tennis enthusiasts are certainly eagerly anticipating the potential climax of her extraordinary journey in professional tennis.