Sloane Stephens excited to play with friends in World Team Tennis
After an early exit from Wimbledon, Sloane Stephens will now focus on her upcoming season with Mylan World Team Tennis’ Philadelphia Freedoms.
Though Stephens was bounced from the first round of Wimbledon in straight sets, she was still happy to be playing.
The rising star rattled off three titles to start 2016, before a left foot injury sidelined her for 11 months after the Olympics in Rio. Initially thinking it would heal, she did not have surgery until January, when she realized it was a stress fracture and a cyst. Once ranked as high as No. 11, she cascaded down to No. 336.
But returning has been Stephens’ mantra lately. Now back from Wimbledon, this will be her second bout in the WTT. Her first season was in 2009 with the New York ‘Baby Buzz,’ a junior team linked to the franchise now known as the San Diego Aviators.
“At this point, I’m just really looking forward to getting on the court no matter where it is,” she said. “The WTT is a good way to start my comeback. I’m super excited to get to Philly and play for the team.”
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The Freedoms’ season kicks off Sunday and packs 14 matches into 18 days. The women have only one substitute, Kveta Peschke, and the team’s website has Stephens scheduled to play the first 11 matches.
“It’s physically demanding playing Wimbledon and WTT,” Stephens said. “Scheduling is going to be key, so I need to take care of my body and schedule some recovery.”
Her marquee matchup will likely come on July 24, when the Freedoms take on Venus Williams and the Washington Kastles in the final of a three-match series. Stephens previously upset Williams in WTT play in 2009, when she was just 16.
“It’ll be awesome, at least one of those nights, if not all nights, we’re gonna get the W,” Stephens said. “[Obviously] they’re our biggest rivals, so it’ll just be an intense three days for both of us.”
While Stephens is penciling at least one win in her calendar, she is careful not to be overly ambitious about her comeback.
“No expectations at all — I haven't played in 9 months. I don’t expect anything great,” she said. “Obviously if a good result comes early, that’s icing on the cake, but no expectations from the jump.”
Expectations may be a little higher in Philadelphia. The Freedoms finished 7-5 last season, fourth in the league. Stephens will add star power to a team that she says is made up of her “besties,” as they aim to return to the finals for the first time since 2006.
“I have known Darien (King) and Taylor (Townsend) a long time and can’t wait to play on the same team this summer,” Stephens said. “We have good camaraderie and I am super excited to play.”