When Sloane Stephens burst onto the American tennis scene, upsetting Serena Williams in the Australian Open back in January, she stunned the nation and won it over.
The 20-year-old has seen the red carpet, photo shoots and celebrities and still maintains the humility of a childhood neighbor. Stephens’ No. 16 world ranking doesn’t hurt, either.
Despite falling short of a Wimbledon semifinal appearance with a loss to Marion Bartoli, the hope for and praise of Stephens hasn’t stopped. She’s expected to be the future of American tennis as the sport looks for a new heroine, and she’s lived up to the task so far.
