Sloane Stephens issues brutally honest "money" response to critics urging American to retire amid form struggles

On the court, Sloane Stephens' form has been in free fall, with the former World No. 3 not having won a singles WTA Tour-level match since her first-round victory at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. This has led to several fans criticizing the Florida native over her apparent lack of motivation and urging her to call time on her career. However, Stephens recently clapped back at the criticism.

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Stephens called her critics out over their harsh and often unfiltered takes about her decline. The 2017 US Open champion suggested that they fail to understand that at the end of the day, she's a human being like them.

"People don’t have any filter. They also don’t realize that you’re another human being. They would never say it to your face. It actually prohibits people from putting their lives out there because they don’t want to be judged," Stephens told Us Weekly.

The 31-year-old also revealed that despite her poor form stretching back to last year's Wimbledon Championships, she is still getting significantly paid to play tennis. Stephens opined that no one in her position would think of retiring considering the financial incentives on offer.

"It’s all about what the athlete can handle, right? ‘You should retire?’ I’m like, ‘If these people are still paying me, I’m not going.’ I think people don’t realize, if someone was paying you a lot of money, you wouldn’t quit your job. You wouldn’t leave your job," Stephens added.

Stephens' latest loss came at the ongoing 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland, where she slumped to a surprising first-round loss to compatriot Ann Li.

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Sloane Stephens was bundled out of ASB Classic 2025 in 1R despite winning first set

In Picture: Sloane Stephens, Charlotte Invitational 2024 - Source: Getty

Drawn to face 24-year-old Ann Li in the first round of the 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland, Sloane Stephens was the on-paper favorite to progress to the second round. Things looked to be going Stephens' way after she clinched the first set 7-5.

However, Li made a remarkable recovery, and won the next two sets, both by the margin of 6-4, ousting the former World No. 3 from the WTA 250 event. Stephens was particularly poor on serve across the second and third sets. Throughout the match, Li engineered 12 break point opportunities and converted five of them. Once again, fans turned on Stephens after yet another disappointing display.

Stephens is now winless in seven singles matches. On the bright side though, she is going strong in the women's doubles category in Auckland. She and doubles partner Clara Tauson have reached the semifinals, where they are slated to face Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria.