USTA Foundation to Honor Sloane Stephens at US Open

Sloane Stephens will be honored by the USTA Foundation at the 2026 US Open for her impact on and off the court.    

The USTA Foundation announced that Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, Olympian, entrepreneur and philanthropist, will receive the Serving Up Dreams Award at the foundation’s annual Opening Night Gala on Sunday, Aug. 30, at the US Open.

The award recognizes individuals dedicated to advancing the USTA Foundation’s mission of using tennis, education and mentorship to help prepare young people from under-resourced communities for life on and off the court.

Stephens is one of the most accomplished American tennis players of her generation. She became only the fifth American woman in the Open Era to win the US Open and later reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 3.

Off the court, Stephens has become a leading advocate for education, equity and community impact through the Sloane Stephens Foundation, which has locations in Compton, Calif., Fresno, Calif., and Miami Gardens, Fla.

Source: USTA Foundation.

The foundation is part of the USTA Foundation’s national network of organizations that use tennis as a tool to help young people from under-resourced communities live their best life stories.

Established in 2013, when Stephens was just 20 years old, the Sloane Stephens Foundation works to empower young people and families through education, wellness and sport. Its programs include academic enrichment, mentorship, mental health support and athletic training.

In 2025, the Sloane Stephens Foundation served 7,500 young people through 1,500 hours of tennis, education and life-skills programming. The South Florida chapter was also designated as one of the first USTA Foundation Community Impact Hubs, an initiative designed to expand access to school and family play opportunities, coach training and investment in courts.

Stephens has also been nationally recognized for her impact away from tennis. She was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy and received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards for her work with the foundation.

“The game of tennis has changed my life and opened up a world of possibilities for the next generation,” Stephens said. “Ensuring more young people have access to the sport and the opportunities it can provide is so important to me. Through the Sloane Stephens Foundation, we use tennis as a vehicle to help young people build confidence, develop life skills, ensuring every child feels supported, valued, and empowered to pursue their dreams. When we invest in kids, create opportunities, and build communities that believe in them, there’s no limit to what they can accomplish."

Stephens has also founded an award-winning, sustainable self-care brand inspired by her family. She is an investor in a global women’s basketball league and a cofounder of a sports and entertainment startup, continuing to champion mental health, diversity in sports and youth empowerment.

“Sloane is a powerful inspiration who continues to use her platform to grow the next generation of leaders,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “From her grace on and off the court to her business acumen in the boardroom, she is a shining example that with dedication and confidence, anything is possible – a core lesson that’s taught every single day through the Sloane Stephens Foundation. We are proud to honor her with this year’s Serving Up Dreams Award and we look forward to the profound impact she will continue to make in the lives of young people.”

To learn more about the USTA Foundation, visit ustafoundation.com and follow @USTAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Source: USTA Foundation.

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