Sloane Stephens has reflected on Tennis’ role in the battle with mental health ahead of the start of the US Open.
The 2017 champion is preparing for the last grand slam of the season as she prepares to take on Madison Keys in a rematch from the scene where she won her maiden grand slam.
As well as being a tennis player, Stephens is also a member of the WTA players council which plays a major role in all issues in society and how tennis can help.
One of the main issues due to the pandemic is mental health and the American recently spoke about how its effected the tennis community, “I’m on the [Women’s Tennis Association] Players’ Council, so I think we see a lot of concerns and complaints — not complaints — but like what people think about issues that have happened or things that are currently happening,” the American told People.com.
“And I think that obviously, we can do better to support each other. I think getting through that and trying to navigate this process as a competitor, but also like as just a normal human being who has feelings and emotions… Yeah, it’s been difficult. But I think everyone’s tried hard and you offer your support where you can.
“If you’re struggling and you need to get it out, why would you just sit and wallow? Maybe there’s someone else that can help you, maybe there’s someone that you can talk to, maybe there’s someone that has gone through the same thing and can offer you advice and support and whatever that may be.
“I’ve been in a place where it’s been dark and it’s been deep and it’s been sad. I’m like, ‘I need to get out of that place.’ But you know you’re stuck there if you don’t talk to anyone and no one knows what you’re going through.
“I think that younger athletes are not told enough that ‘It’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to be happy, it’s okay to show your emotion.’ And no one I feel like in the sports industry is comforting in that. It’s always like ‘This decision, this moment it’s going to affect you for the rest of your life.’ That’s the type of pressure people feel and they pretend to be okay. You end up in a space or a position where you just don’t feel good and you don’t feel good mentally and you don’t feel good physically. Then you can’t perform.”
Recently Venus Williams pledged 2 million dollars to free mental health therapy to ensure that tennis doesn’t struggle with these problems.
The ATP also revealed a whole range of initiatives to help players relax and look after their mental health.
It’s quite clearly a topic that still needs a lot of thought put in by tennis’ governing bodies to make players feel comfortable and be ok with talking about their mental health.
Speaking ahead of the US Open, the American is just happy to be playing in front of full capacity crowds again, “I think, at this point, everyone, like nobody has anything to lose. Like we’d just been in a pandemic,” the former champion said.
“It’s the first time we’ll have fans. There’ll be a lot of energy, the atmosphere will be great. And I think people will really look to take advantage of the situation. We’re excited that now it’s happening again. And we have fans again and we’re able to have that feeling and feel that rush again and that atmosphere and it’s exciting.”
Sloane Stephens will play her first round match against good friend Madison Keys on Monday.
