Sloane Stephens responds to online critics who think she should retire

Sloane Stephens Read all the comments calling for her to retire – but don’t expect her to listen.

In an exclusive interview US WeeklyThe 31-year-old tennis star explains how she has learned to let social media criticism roll off her back more than 15 years into her career.

“People don’t have any filters,” said Stephens, who spoke to us through her partnership with Daily Harvest. “They also don’t realize you’re a different person. They’ll never say it to your face. It actually prohibits people from exposing their lives because they don’t want to be judged.

Stephens added: “It all comes down to what the athlete can handle, right? “Should you retire? “I thought, ‘If these people are still paying me, I’m not going to go. I don’t think people realize that if someone pays you a lot of money, you don’t quit. You don’t leave your job.

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Eventually, Stephens explained, she was in the “I don’t give—” phase.

“As an athlete, you usually have tough skin,” said the 2017 U.S. Open champion. “To punters and people who are literally like, ‘You deserved to win, you fucking bitch.’ So when people comment on my posts, like, ‘Why are you posting this? “This is my page. Get lost.”

While Stephens has worn-out armor, she admits “young athletes haven’t experienced it yet.”

“I thought, ‘Oh, whatever,'” she said of her social media mentality. “If you don’t like something I post, follow someone else. Unfollow me. Block me. Do whatever you need to do. If you feel safe in your world, in your life, in tennis, or whatever, you Just don’t react too much to what other people say.

As for her physical health, Stephens — Still on the road 40 weeks a year — full of irony, she gushed about how her collaboration with Daily Harvest came about naturally.

“I first started using Daily Harvest during COVID-19 because we were all struggling to find healthy options,” she explains. “I couldn’t go out and I didn’t cook. Throughout my career, I would always stay somewhere for a month. I always liked using the meal prep option because it was easier for me.

Now, Daily Harvest is launching a line of protein-packed smoothies in vanilla bean, dark chocolate and mixed berry flavors.

Daily Harvest is also partnering with Stephens’ body care company, Doc & Glo, to highlight both brands’ commitment to supporting active lifestyles and overall wellness.

“When they put out a smoothie, I knew it had me written all over it,” she said. “It’s so easy, so simple. It just fits. It’s true.