"Should get 10,000 refund requests" ; "Deserves that spot" - Fans divided as Sloane Stephens picked over Coco Gauff for Day 1 night session at US Open

Sloane Stephens is set to take to the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the night session on the first day of main draw action at the 2024 US Open. However, Stephens being picked over defending champion Coco Gauff for the night session has drawn mixed reactions from fans.

Stephens, a former World No. 3 and the 2017 US Open champion, has been nowhere near her peak in recent years. The 31-year-old finds herself ranked World No. 60 right now, and so far this season, she has won 19 out of 38 matches. She did, however, win the Open de Rouen title back in April after defeating Magda Linette in the final.

Meanwhile, Gauff, despite enduring recent form struggles of her own, is a top 3 player and more significantly, the defending champion going into this year's US Open. However, it will be Sloane Stephens, and not Gauff, who takes to the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, for the night session on Day 1, Monday, August 26.

Stephens is set to face Frenchwoman Clara Burel in the first round, while Gauff is slated to begin her title defense against another Frenchwoman in Varvara Gracheva during the day session.

Several fans supported the tournament's decision to put Sloane Stephens in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium owing to her former US Open champion status.

"Y'all forgetting Sloane is a US Open CHAMPION she deserves that spot over jpeg (Jessica Pegula) and even Coco (Gauff) frankly," a fan wrote.

"I imagine Gauff requested a day session, but not the FIRST day session. So, Shelton/Thiem goes first. Good programming to have Day 1 on Ashe feature a former champion in every match," commented another fan.

"Let’s not forget Sloane has won the U.S. Open and is an American. I wasn’t shocked by this because organizers know Novak will draw a crowd at night. It’s actually more beneficial to put Coco during the day to fill more seats in Ashe during the day," another chimed in.

However, there were others who ridiculed the US Open for putting Stephens, a player who looks well past her prime, in the night session.

"It’s insane. They should get 10,000 refund requests," wrote a fan.

"Curious if they think Sloane is going to retire or something... I know she's a former champion but it feels like a very random choice?" a puzzled fan added.

"Imagine buying a night session ticket just to see Sloane getting breadsticked," yet another weighed in.

Sloane Stephens has reached the US Open quarterfinals only once since her 2017 title triumph

Sloane Stephens (Source: Getty)

Stephens dominated compatriot Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0 to win the 2017 US Open. However, her fortunes at the prestigious hardcourt Major since then, have been, for the most part, dismal.

The former World No. 3 reached the 2018 US Open quarterfinals, where she lost to Latvian Anastasija Sevastova. From the next year though, up until now, Stephens has failed to get beyond the third round. She was also knocked out in the first round on a couple of occasions (2019, 2023).

Sloane Stephens has faced her first-round opponent at this year's US Open, Burel, only once previously on the WTA Tour. It came earlier this year at the Dubai Tennis Championships, and finished 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the American's favor.