How does it feel to see your best friend walking down the aisle? For WTA star Sloane Stephens, it was indeed an emotional moment filled with joy and tears of happiness. After celebrating Madison Keys’ grand wedding, Stephens is now gearing up for an exhibition match against her friend. Now the 2017 US Open winner is savoring the happy memories of Keys’ wedding knowing it will always be Stephens’ life’s one of the memorable events.

Stephens is in Charlotte to attend an exhibition match against her friend and colleague Madison Keys. Last month, Keys married her coach and longtime partner Bjorn Fratangelo in Charleston in front of Sloane Stephens, Taylor Townsend, and many other WTA stars who have been Keys’ close acquaintances. In this wedding, Stephens attracted spotlight when she grooved to Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode with a glass of cocktail in her hand. Stephens’ expression showcased her intense happiness seeing her best friend getting hitched to the love of her life. After days of that memorable event, Stephens is pouring her heart out expressing the joy she found witnessing Keys and Frantangelo’ union.

“Obviously, I know them both so well and  obviously when she walked down the aisle and I walked first and I was like falling and when she walked I just couldn’t control it. Her was like what is going on? When you see one of your closest friends have married obviously the her love of life and they are planning their lives together, their futures, its always really nice and obviously when you have been a part of that journey, its quite more special. So, obviously we’re at the wedding and everyone was just like I was like waterworks and I was like I not gonna go near her because I just don’t want to be crying and we were. So, it’s really nice to be part of someone’s journey and someone’s life and her tennis life, we have been super connected but also on the personal level on her wedding, it’s just a lot!”  said Stephens with Keys sitting right beside her. While she spoke about the whole thing, Stephens’ face oozed that happiness and joy in enjoying the union of two of her close friends.

In an interview with Nike in 2022, Stephens revealed how their friendship began simply and they became close quickly. “In tennis, you’re kind of just around the same people all the time. I think we were like, “Oh, hi, let’s be friends. We’re close in age,” said Sloane. In the same Nike interview, Stephens highlighted her equation with Keys with a small revelation. “ I feel like we’ve just grown up with each other, so we’ve seen each other grow as humans—moving to new houses, buying furniture, new boyfriends … we’ve had a lot of the same things happen. Madi is obsessed with plants, and it’s really weird and I can’t relate, but she sends me some pictures of them,” said Stephens.

From childhood to adulthood, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens remained best friends. In an interview this year, Stephens highlighted how her best friend has been by her side during every twist and turn of life – showcasing that their friendship is meant to last forever.

Sloane Stephens felt grateful to have a friend like Madison Keys

On the National Girls and Women Sports Day on 7th February this year, Stephens penned down a heartwarming note dedicated to her friend Madison Keys. Reflecting on Keys’ nature to always speak against injustice, Stephens wrote, “I am so thankful to have a friend on tour like Madison Keys. Madi keeps it 💯 at all times and is always the person to speak up or ask questions when something seems unjust.” Stephens’ words echoed her love and admiration for her friend who fights injustice without considering her social image. Stephens then continued how Keys has supported her through thick and thin. “We have been by each other’ side, even we are across the net from each other during some of the biggest days if our lives, and through it all, our friendship has remained constant.”

Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys’ friendship restores people’s faith in true bonding. Despite on-court rivalry, Stephens and Keys have always embraced each other with a warm hug post-match and even encouraged each other’s success highlighting that friendship matters more to them than winning titles. So, are you a fan of Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys’s friendship?