Sloane Stephens Appoints Sven Groeneveld as Coach

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens hires Sven Groeneveld as her new coach. Big announcement week continues for Sloane Stephens. The recently engaged tennis player announced on Social media that Sven Groeneveld will join her team ahead of the Madrid Masters.

Sloane Stephens posted a picture on Twitter with Groeneveld at Madrid Open’s Caja Magica. The world no. 1 welcomed her new team member with a caption saying, ” welcome to the team, Sven Groeneveld. Hope you like boba and Indian food.

Sven Groeneveld worked with former world no. 1, Maria Sharapova as a coach. Partnering with Sharapova, Groeneveld coached her to conquer the 2014 Roland Garros title. Groeneveld worked with the Russian until last year, when the two decided to split following the BNP Paribas Open.

Besides Maria Sharapova, Groeneveld has also coached Monica Seles, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Mary Pierce, and Caroline Wozniacki. In addition, he also worked with Ana Ivanovic when she won the French Open 2008 and became the world no. 1.

While Sloane Stephens previously worked with the American coach Kamau Murray until the end of the last season. She won her maiden major title at the 2017 US Open partnering with Kamau Murray. Stephens also reached the finals of the Roland Garros last season, reaching a career-high ranking at no. 3 in the world. Kamau Murray is currently working with Monica Puig.

Sloane Stephens started the clay season with a positive note. The American reached the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open. She also helped the United States, leading her country to a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in Fed Cup.

Sloane Stephens is scheduled to play the combined WTA/ATP Masters event in Madrid, next week. Stephens also made an announcement on her engagement with her longtime boyfriend and American Soccer player Jozy Altidore, this week. It would be interesting to see how the American performs on the court after a fast series of changes in her life.