Stephens rolls on as off-court legacy grows

Unexpected accolade

For all the sport has brought her, including a career-defining US Open triumph in 2017, it all pales in comparison to being a conduit for less fortunate children to forge a path towards their dreams.

The former world No.3, who powered past Italian Lisa Pigato 6-4 6-1 into the final round of Roland-Garros qualifying on Wednesday, was named last week as a Time 100 honouree for her philanthropy.

It was an unexpected accolade on the eve of her first foray into qualifying in Paris since 2011.

“I was like, wow! I was like, who knew? Obviously, my foundation, we've been doing that since 2013, so we put in a lot of work there,” Stephens told rolandgarros.com.

“We work mainly in Compton, California and in Florida, and we're starting in Fresno, in my hometown this summer. We reach about 25,000 kids a year, which is a ton of kids. When I'm not playing or when I wasn't playing last year, that was literally my whole entire life.

“I spent all summer at camp. I spent all summer planning, writing grants with my mom, organising, doing all of the things. So it's definitely something that I will do after tennis, because it's just what I love to do, and I think tennis has been my vehicle to do so many incredible things and help so many people.

“Obviously when you do the work it's not like our work is very publicised, we just do it, so it's really nice to have a recognition like that.”

It was the 33-year-old’s second such honour in under a year after she collected the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the ESPYS last July.

It came amid an otherwise challenging year on court after a right foot stress fracture ruled her out of the final three majors.

“[Ali’s] wife presented me with the award so that was really nice,” she said. “I love Muhammad Ali so it was an incredible honour and then to get that [the Time 100 honour] this year just shows that the work that we're doing is making a difference and I think that's the most important part.

“Whether it's seen or unseen it doesn't make a difference, but to know that it's helping others, I think that's the best part.”

Giving back

Stephens was first exposed to such philanthropy from an early age due to her grandparents’ involvement with programmes offered through school.

It all became second nature and led the young American to envision a future where every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, would have access to sport.

“My whole life we were always giving back,” she said. “The first ever organised thing I did was at a school in Fresno. We all played tennis and basketball on the [pavement] and it was just like unorganised, but it was just fun and I was like ‘Wow, I wish every kid had the opportunity to play tennis and pick up a racquet.’

“That's really where it started, both my grandparents were on the board there, and I think they've always just given back.

"My grandma had a ton of girls’ groups and it was just a part of my life growing up, so it just feels very normal and a good fit for me and something I'm super proud of.”

Stephens said her victory on Wednesday, which set a showdown with Spain’s Leyre Romero Gormaz, was likely her best match in months.

Regardless of how many more Roland-Garros campaigns remained, life post tennis was assured of further involvement in her eponymously named foundation.

For now, the competitive fires still burn.

“Oh yeah I have like so many plans and so many jobs [for the future], but I think for now this year I'm just gonna focus on tennis and see if I can get my ranking back...

“I'm going to get my ranking back and then go from there.”