Tennis fans are finding it hard to come away feeling good about Sloane Stephens after she was recently profiled in Elle Magazine. The July 16 article, penned by Lizzy Goodman and titled “Is Sloane Stephens the Future of American Tennis?” features several eyebrow-raising quotes from the 21-year-old tennis star.
To View the Full Elle Profile on Stephens, Click Here
Stephens has inspired both love and scorn from tennis fans since she has come of age on the WTA Tour in the last two years. There are many who have fallen for her bubbly, playful personality and athletic, clutch tennis, but there is also a large faction of fans that believe the American is overhyped and disingenuous.
For the latter, some of Sloane’s recent quotes should be cause for further question.
Though it’s clear that the author is not particularly fond of Stephens and thus chooses to malign her character more than praise it, readers must wonder: Did Goodman go into the assignment with good intentions and then come away having nothing to say about Stephens other than the fact that she’s spoiled and bratty?
At times it seems like it is possible that Stephens is being misunderstood, as if she's just trying to be funny or carefree. But at others it's hard to deny--she comes off as spoiled. And even if she is just joking around, the larger question persists: Doesn't Stephens care enough about her image to show a more earnest, intense and caring persona to the world?
Here’s some choice quotes from the piece, for those of you that haven’t had a chance to read it:
On the tiring exercise of signing autographs:
But back at Lagardère, when she’s asked to sign gear for an upcoming United States Tennis Association kids’ day event, she’s clearly in no mood. She sits down at a conference table and begins to autograph a stack of visors, flinging each one across the room like a Frisbee as she goes. “I’m not signing those wristbands, I hope you know,” she announces, breaking the awkward silence that has settled over the room. Soon, Stephens declares she’s done. “I’m not signing any more. There’s not that many kids in the world.”
On putting gas in her SUV
After lunch, Stephens has to stop to get gas, which is more complicated than usual because she’s not yet used to her new SUV. “I’ve never gone to a gas station for this thing, and I normally don’t pump gas, so I don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” she says, comically unaware of the image she’s presenting: Privileged tennis starlet struggles with plebeian task. I offer to get out and help. “No,” she says firmly but politely as she closes the driver’s-side door. “I can figure it out. Just wish me luck.”
On what type of gifts she gets from Jack Sock, her rumored-to-be boyfriend
When I ask in the car on the way home what gifts Sock has given her thus far in their year-plus relationship, she says, “Pretty much anything I want.”
On her diamond earrings
Then she volunteers that though she and rival Caroline Wozniacki wear earrings with the same size diamonds, Stephens “paid way less” for hers, which are “almost perfect” stones. “[Wozniacki] got ripped off.”
On skipping college
As for her education, “I got the college experience without going to college. I don’t miss it. When my friends are like, ‘I’m going to class,’ I’m like, ‘I’m going to take a nap.’ ”