For Sloane Stephens, the next chapter begins not with fanfare but with quiet determination. After two seasons spent wrestling with injuries, inconsistency and an alarming rankings plunge, the former US Open champion has chosen Auckland as the place to reset her career. The decision signals intent: Stephens is not easing towards retirement but actively building a 2026 revival — one she hopes will remind the sport of the player who once glided through draws with unshakeable composure.
A Difficult Two Seasons: Injuries, Absences and a Vanishing Rhythm
Stephens has already confirmed her first event of 2026, a necessary declaration after a year that yielded barely six tournaments and a lengthy seven-month layoff. The 32-year-old spent much of 2025 drifting on the periphery of the tour, balancing physical setbacks with unsteady performances. Fans saw more of her from the commentary booth than from the baseline, with Stephens appearing on broadcasts such as the US Open for Tennis TV.
Despite the interruptions, she insists retirement is not on the agenda. What she wants, she says, is to return “in good physical condition and at a high level.” Yet 2025 allowed little momentum: she opened the year with four straight losses and did not win a match before withdrawing from Indian Wells due to a foot injury. That decision triggered her longest break from competition.
A Long Road Back: Failed Comebacks and a Grim Losing Streak
Between her February exit in Merida and her eventual return in Guadalajara in September, more than seven months passed — and the comeback was bruising. She lost her opening match in Guadalajara, then travelled to Tampico for an ITF event, only to fall in the first round again. Two tournaments in Mexico produced no wins and ended her 2025 season with a 0–6 match record.
The consequences were brutal. Once ranked No.3 in the world, Stephens now sits around No. 1,075. Her losing streak has reached 12 matches, and her last win dates back to Wimbledon 2024, when she beat Elsa Jacquemot in the first round. Her defeat to Sahaja Yamalapalli, then ranked No. 347, closed the book on 2025 and forced Stephens to reassess the pace and structure of her career.
Setting the Stage for 2026: A Return to a Familiar Venue
Stephens will turn 33 shortly after the start of next season, but the new year begins with a familiar comfort: the ASB Classic in Auckland. The WTA 250 event, held from 5–11 January, has offered her a wildcard — a welcome invitation to a tournament she once won in 2016, beating Julia Goerges in the final.
The field will not be forgiving. Auckland will feature 2023 finalist Elina Svitolina, rising Americans such as Emma Navarro, and young contenders like Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala. Donna Vekic adds further weight to the draw.
A Star-Powered Wildcard List: Venus Williams Leads the Names
Stephens is not the only marquee wildcard. Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, will open her 2026 campaign in Auckland and hopes to push on towards an Australian Open appearance. Katie Boulter, ranked outside the top 100 after a difficult year, also receives a wildcard as she attempts to rebuild her standing.
For Stephens, the ASB Classic offers symbolism as much as opportunity — a place where she has won before, now serving as the launchpad for a comeback she refuses to abandon.
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