For years, Sloane Stephens carried herself with the elegance of a champion who had already touched the mountaintop. A US Open winner, a former world number 3, and a player who once made the sport look effortless - she seemed destined for longevity at the top. But tennis, as always, had its own script.

The past two seasons tested her in ways far harsher than any grueling three-setter. Last year she played 40 matches and won just 19 out of them. But this year, the numbers are even more concerning (0-5). She suffered a foot injury this year, which kept her out of action for seven months. Currently, Stephens is on a 12-match losing streak stretching back all the way to Wimbledon 2024. And a ranking that fell so sharply she now finds herself outside the Top 1000 - a number unimaginable for someone who once ruled the women’s tour.

Yet, Sloane Stephens has never been defined by the falls. She’s always been defined by the comebacks. As murmurs grew louder about her future - Would she retire? Could she still compete? Was the spark gone? Stephens finally broke the silence with a decision that showed exactly the kind of fighter she remains. When the entry list for the WTA 250 event in Auckland was released, one detail instantly lit up the tennis world: Sloane Stephens had accepted a wildcard. This will be her fifth main draw appearance at the ASB Classic.

The tournament gets underway on January 5. She won this title in 2016, defeating the likes of Julia Gorges (GER) in the final by 7-5, 6-2. A year after that, she won her first major title (2017 US Open). But now, Stephens is far from her best. Her most recent defeat came at the WTA 125 tournament in Tampico, where she was defeated by the world number 347, Sahaja Yamalapalli.

The performances in the last couple of years have raised many questions over the future of this 32-year-old American star. What are her thoughts on the retirement speculations?

Sloane Stephens shares her thoughts on her retirement plans

For months, every time Sloane Stephens skipped a tournament or posted a cryptic message on social media, the whispers grew louder. Is she done? With a rank of 1075 and no such wins for a long time, retirement speculation became an unavoidable chorus around her. Do you know that she’s now just three losses away from entering the list of WTA players with the longest losing streaks? (Magdeleine Pegel sits on top of that list with 29 consecutive losses).

But time and again, we’ve seen her addressing the noise surrounding her retirement with a bit of calmness and full of honesty. In October 2024, during an interview with the Tennis Insider Club, she said, “Everyone asks me that, I feel so old! I have no idea. I guess when I start losing and they are not paying me any more! This is a good job to stay at. There is a lot of travel, and it’s hectic, and it’s hard. There is a lot of adversity happening every single week, which nobody ever sees, but I think, what job is going to pay you to put on your tennis dress and go on and play a match on live TV? Otherwise, I’m going to be at home. Until I have a kid or something.”

There was no defiance in her voice - just clarity. No dramatic promise of a career revival - just intention. She further added, “Maybe I haven’t got the itch to stop yet. I feel like I have always wanted to go to new places and see new things and do new stuff.”

Coming to the longevity of her career before the 2025 season, Sloane Stephens said, “So obviously, to take that into 2025 will be important for just the longevity of my career. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to play, so just making sure that I enjoy it and having a good time.”

All Stephens wants now is to leave the game as better than just a player. She claims tennis has given her so many opportunities in her life, and in return, she truly believes that she owes it to herself to help others achieve dreams bigger than hers. Do you think Stephens can win a few more titles next year and inspire the tennis world once again with her comeback?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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