Jun 17, 2022 | 3:56 PM EDT
American tennis player Sloane Stephens has been quite vocal about online harassment and abuse ever since her teenage days on the WTA Tour. Stephens, who is also part of the WTA Council, earlier revealed that she received over 2,000 messages of abuse after a Grand Slam loss.
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Recently, the American was given an opportunity to launch the White House Task Force alongside the Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris.
Stephens launches new Task Force with VP Harris
In an attempt to reduce online abuse, Stephens was at the White House for the launch of this new initiative. Stephens took to Twitter saying, “It was my truly pleasure to have introduced Madam Vice President as she launched the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse today!”
It was my truly pleasure to have introduced Madam Vice President as she launched the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse today! pic.twitter.com/s6y5V8mTpF
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) June 16, 2022
Stephens also spoke about her own experiences throughout her professional career.
“Many of you might first associate me with being a professional tennis player, which of course is my day job, but it’s not the sound of who I am. I’m a daughter, a sister, a wife, and I’m more than an athlete, more than a label. It is all disregarded when people online seek to harass me and harm me,” she added.
Stephens is a former Grand Slam winner after taking home the US Open in 2017.
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The World No. 48 couldn’t manage to be consistent in 2022 so far. After losing to Emma Raducanu in Melbourne, she reached the quarters at Roland Garros losing to countryman Coco Gauff. However, she won the Mexico Open title in Guadalajara.
Reuters
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 28, 2021 Sloane Stephens of the U.S. in action during her first round match against Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova REUTERS/Paul Childs
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Stephens will move to the grass courts in Germany in preparations for Wimbledon later this month. She will be part of the singles draw at the WTA 250 Bad Homburg Open, before arriving in London. The former World No. 3 reached the quarters of Wimbledon back in 2013, and will look to replicate the same form at SW19 that starts next week.