Sloane Stephens has read all of the comments calling on her to retire — but don’t expect her to listen.
During an interview with Us Weekly, 31-year-old tennis star discussed how she has evolved in handling social media criticism over the course of her 15-year professional career.
Stephens expressed her thoughts, stating, “People lack a filter. They fail to recognize that there is another human being on the receiving end. They wouldn’t express the same comments in person. This aspect inhibits individuals from sharing their lives online due to the fear of judgment.”
She further elaborated, emphasizing, “Each athlete deals with it differently, don’t they? ‘Why don’t you retire?’ My response is, ‘As long as I’m being compensated, I’m not quitting.’ People overlook the fact that if someone was offering them a substantial amount of money, they wouldn’t walk away from their job.”
Ultimately, Stephens explained she’s in her “phase of I don’t give a s—.”
“As an athlete, you have such tough skin in general,” the 2017 US Open champion said. “For the bettors and the people who are literally like, ‘You should have won, you f—ing bitch.’ So when people comment on my post like, ‘Why are you posting this?’ It’s my page. Get the f— off.”
While Stephens boasts well-worn armor, she acknowledged how “younger athletes haven’t experienced it.”
“I’m like, ‘Oh, whatever,’” she said of her social media mindset. “If I post and you don’t like it, just follow somebody else. Unfollow me. Block me. Do whatever you need to do. If you feel secure in your world and in your life and in your tennis or whatever it is, you don’t react as much to things other people are saying.”
As for her physical health, Stephens — who still spends 40 weeks a year on the road — gushed about how her partnership with Daily Harvest came about, ironically, quite organically.
“During COVID is when I first started using Daily Harvest because we were all trying to figure out how to get healthy options,” she explained. “I couldn’t go out and I wasn’t cooking. Throughout my career, I’ve always had little bits and stints where I’ve been someplace for a month. I’ve always loved using meal prep options because it’s just easier for me.”
Now, Daily Harvest has unveiled a line of protein-packed smoothies in flavors Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate and Mixed Berry.
Daily Harvest has also collaborated with Doc & Glo, Stephens’ body care company, to highlight both brands’ commitment to supporting active lifestyles and overall well-being.
“When they came out with a smoothie, I knew that had me written all over it,” she said. “It’s so easy, so simple. It just fits. It’s genuine.”
