Sloane Stephens arrived at the US Open courts in an elegant white outfit on the day she began her new role as a US Open analyst for ESPN. Alongside her analyst debut, Stephens shared a glimpse of Novak Djokovic’s practice session, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament preparations.

Since her foot injury at the Merida Open earlier this year, which required surgery, Stephens has not competed on the WTA Tour as she continues her recovery. Despite this setback, the 2017 US Open champion remains closely involved with tennis through her commentary and analysis work.

For her first day on the ESPN set, Stephens wore a short off-shoulder white dress, complemented by a diamond necklace and pointed-toe sandals, presenting a polished and sophisticated appearance while standing near the practice courts.

“First day, first fit. ESPN, let’s do this!” —Sloane Stephens, US Open analyst

Stephens also used her Instagram story to share footage of Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner, practicing intensely on the courts. Djokovic is competing in the US Open mixed doubles alongside Olga Danilovic. The team exited the tournament in the Round of 16 after a loss to Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva on August 20. Djokovic will begin his singles campaign after the draw is revealed on August 21.

Sloane Stephens Supports Expanded Prize Money at the US Open

The US Open recently announced a significant 20% rise in total prize money for its 2025 edition, bringing the prize pool from $75 million last year up to $90 million. This increase would make it the most lucrative prize fund in tennis history.

In an interview with TNT, Stephens reflected on what this growth means for players and the broader tennis community.

“There’s still more money to be made. There are still more opportunity. We are working, we are going in that direction. I do think that the Slams have a lot of control over what happens and how much money we are allocated,” —Sloane Stephens

“These things take a long time. It is a very 50-50 type of business relationship and we don’t obviously get anywhere near 50%. So to be able to raise the prize money and have a little bit more of a fair balance, I think that’s what we’re going for,” —Sloane Stephens

Beyond her analyst role, Stephens contributes to the community through the Sloane Stephens Foundation, which recently earned her the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the ESPYs in recognition of her efforts off the court.