Sloane Stephens has not been a big factor on the WTA Tour in 2025.
Stephens is a former US Open champion and has been ranked as high as world number three.
However, she has only been able to play five matches this year, with Stephens suffering a foot injury that kept her out of action for seven months.
Stephens is currently ranked outside the top 1000, and she has now confirmed what she plans to do ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.
Sloane Stephens confirms first tournament for the 2026 season
As well as injury disrupting her from competing, Stephens is also on a 12-match losing streak which dates back to Wimbledon in 2024.
Stephens’ most recent defeat came at the WTA 125 tournament in Tampico, where she was beaten by world number 347 at the time, Sahaja Yamalapalli.
| Tournament | Result |
| Wimbledon 2024 (2R) | Diana Shnaider beat Stephens, 6-1 6-1 |
| Washington Open 2024 (1R) | Amanda Anisimova beat Stephens, 6-3 7-5 |
| Canadian Open 2024 (1R) | Greet Minnen beat Stephens, 6-2 6-2 |
| US Open 2024 (1R) | Clara Burel beat Stephens, 0-6 7-5 7-5 |
| Guadalajara Open 2024 (1R) | Olivia Gadecki beat Stephens, 6-4 6-3 |
| Korea Open 2024 (1R) | Hailey Baptiste beat Stephens, 7-6(4) 6-2 |
| Auckland Open 2025 (1R) | Ann Li beat Stephens, 5-7 6-4 6-4 |
| Hobart International 2025 (1R) | Ann Li beat Stephens, 7-5 6-1 |
| Australian Open 2025 (1R) | Aryna Sabalenka beat Stephens, 6-3 6-2 |
| Merida Open 2025 (1R) | Petra Martic beat Stephens, 6-2 6-3 |
| Guadalajara Open 2025 (1R) | Lucrezia Stefanini beat Stephens, 6-4 4-6 6-1 |
| Abierto Tampico 2025 (1R) | Sahaja Yamalapalli beat Stephens, 6-2 6-2 |
This has left many questions over the future of 32-year-old Stephens, but she has now confirmed that she will play in 2026.
After the entry list for the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland was announced, it confirmed that Stephens had received a wildcard for the event.
This will be Stephens’ fifth main draw appearance at the ASB Classic, having won the title after beating Julia Goerges.
While she is competing in tournaments prior to the Australian Open, Stephens has not received direct entry to the first major of 2026 due to her current ranking.
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Who else is playing at the WTA tournament in Auckland?
Stephens is not the only big name to have received a wildcard for the ASB Classic this year, with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams also confirmed to compete in Auckland.
The other wildcard has been awarded to former British number one Katie Boulter, with some big names also receiving direct entry to the tournament.
Former world number three and 2024 ASB Classic finalist Elina Svitolina will be the top seed, in her first tournament since ending her season early due to not feeling herself.
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The other top seeds in Auckland will be Americans Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic, as well as rising young stars Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen.
All of these players are set to compete at the ASB Classic, which gets underway on January 5.
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