Sloane Stephens responds to online critics who say she should retire
Sloane Stephens Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Beautycon
Sloane Stephens has read all the comments asking her to retire – but don’t expect her to listen.
In an exclusive interview with Us weeklyThe 31-year-old tennis star explained how, more than 15 years into her professional career, she has learned to let the criticism on social media roll off of her.
“People don’t have a filter,” said Stephens, who spoke to us about her partnership with Daily Harvest. “You also don’t realize that you are a different person. They would never say it to your face. It actually prohibits people from exposing their lives to the public because they don’t want to be judged.”
Stephens added: “It just depends on what the athlete can handle, right? “You should retire?” I say, “If these people are still paying me, I’m not leaving.” I don’t think people realize that if someone paid you a lot of money, you wouldn’t quit your job. You wouldn’t quit your job.”
Coco Gauff’s admission that she lacks late ’90s boy band knowledge leaves us feeling old-fashioned. Gauff, 20, took part in a video Q&A with fellow American tennis players Danielle Collins and Taylor Fritz, in which the athletes were asked to name their “first celebrity crush.” “Lance Bass seemed to be the safest person in (…).
Ultimately, Stephens explained that she was in her “give-a-nothing phase.”
“As an athlete in general, you have such tough skin,” said the 2017 US Open champion. “For the bettors and the people who literally say, ‘You should have won, you fucking bitch.’ So when people comment on my post and say, “Why are you posting this?” It’s my page. Go away!”
Sloane Stephens Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
While Stephens boasts about worn-out armor, she acknowledged that “younger athletes haven’t experienced that yet.”
“I’m like, ‘Oh, whatever,'” she said of her social media mindset. “If I post and you don’t like it, just follow someone else. Don’t follow me anymore. Block me. Do whatever you have to do. When you feel safe in your world and in your life and in tennis or whatever, you don’t react as much to things other people say.”
As for her physical health, Stephens — who is still on the road 40 weeks a year – gushed about how their partnership with Daily harvest ironically came about quite organically.
“I first started using Daily Harvest during COVID because we were all trying to figure out how to get healthy options,” she explained. “I couldn’t go out and I didn’t cook. Throughout my career there have always been little moments where I was somewhere for a month. I’ve always loved making meals because it’s just easier for me.”
Now, Daily Harvest has been revealed a range of protein-rich smoothies in vanilla bean, dark chocolate and mixed berry flavours.
Daily Harvest also collaborated with Doc & Glo, Stephens’ personal care company, to highlight both brands’ commitment to supporting active lifestyles and overall wellness.
“When they came out with a smoothie, I knew it was a sign for me,” she said. “It’s so simple, so simple. It just fits. It’s real.”
