Retirement appears to have been the buzzword in professional tennis during 2024 with some top players bowing out.
Sir Andy Murray was certainly the biggest from a UK perspective to call time on his career, with the Olympics proving to be his swansong.
In the women’s game, Danielle Collins was all set to hang up the racket but announced last week that 2025 will see her continue.
Elsewhere on the men’s circuit, Dominic Thiem waved goodbye to competitive tennis, whilst Argentine star Diego Schwartzman has also bowed out.
Richard Gasquet has announced that the French Open next year will be his last tournament too.
The biggest name of them all to make the final announcement was Rafael Nadal and that news sent shockwaves through tennis.
Now, Sloane Stephens has been quizzed on her own future after many years as a professional and she’s delivered an intriguing response.
Sloane Stephens delivers update on future after retirement question
The 31-year-old claimed the US Open title in 2017 and has also reached the final at the French Open during her career.
Things have been a struggle in recent years though when it comes to the majors with the American failing to reach the second week of a slam since Roland Garros in 2023.
Stephens has fallen in round one at two of the four majors during 2024 but there are no immediate plans to call time on her career.
She told the Tennis Insider Club podcast: ” Everyone asks me that, I feel so old! I have no idea. I guess when I start losing and they are not paying me any more!
“This is a good job to stay at. There is a lot of travel and it’s hectic and it’s hard. There is a lot of adversity happening every single week which nobody ever sees, but I think what job is going to pay you to put on your tennis dress and go on and play a match on live TV? Otherwise, I’m going to be at home. Until I have a kid or something.
“Maybe I haven’t got the itch to stop yet. I feel like I have always wanted to go to new places and see new things and do new stuff.
“So I was like I’m going to make it to Asia, so I can go to the Great Wall and make it next year and go wherever. I feel that’s helped me have something to look forward to.”
Stephens will want to improve if the enjoyment factor remains
The life of a professional sportsperson is something that no player takes for granted – but results are still important.
With that in mind, Stephens will want to claim a few more wins next season with the calendar year of 2024 not one that will live long in the memory.
Stephens has been there and done it when it comes to winning big prizes so continuing to play does make a lot of sense.
Right now, she’s down at a lowly 45 in the world which for a player who is the former world number three, won’t be deemed good enough.
Stephens isn’t considered old at 31 but if the enjoyment and the desire is to remain, she will want to get back on track next year and win a few more matches.
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