Sloane Stephens may have packed her rackets early at the 2026 French Open, but the American tennis star is still commanding attention in Paris. After falling in the opening round, Stephens has traded her tennis whites for a courtside microphone—and a wardrobe that's turning just as many heads as her groundstrokes.
The 2017 US Open champion qualified for the main draw by powering past Carol Young Suh Lee, Lisa Pigato, and Leyre Romero Gormaz. But her run ended abruptly against Sara Bejlek in the first round. Instead of sulking, Stephens pivoted to a new role: broadcaster. She's been a fixture on TNT's coverage, sitting courtside for marquee matches and bringing her signature energy to the studio.
Earlier this week, she sparked a social media frenzy by rocking a bold leopard-print dress. It wasn't the first time her fashion choices have stolen the spotlight. In 2018, Stephens made her debut in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, a move that caught even her off guard.
“I was nervous and excited beforehand, but once I saw the vision for the issue, I became more relaxed,” Stephens recalled. “It was definitely better than I expected!”
The shoot took place in Aruba, where Stephens battled waves and sand for the perfect shot. “The most challenging shots were shots posing with the waves splashing on you,” she said. “Trying to maintain your composure with waves and sand flowing was wild. I have so much respect for all of the models of the world. Modeling is fun but extremely challenging work.”
Stephens isn't alone in the SI Swimsuit club. Fellow WTA stars like Genie Bouchard, Naomi Osaka, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Caroline Wozniacki have all posed for the iconic magazine. Wozniacki even appeared in the “Body Paint” series in 2016, calling it a “surreal experience” and adding, “I feel like a piece of art walking around right now.”
For Stephens, the photoshoot remains a career highlight. Her willingness to embrace both the athletic and glamorous sides of her life has made her a fan favorite. As she continues her broadcast duties in Paris, the conversation around her style—both on and off the court—shows no signs of cooling down.
Stephens' ability to captivate audiences extends beyond tennis. Her recent fashion choices echo the buzz around other athletes who've balanced sport and modeling, like WWE star Maxxine Dupri's poolside swimsuit photo that had fans going wild. And speaking of turning heads, Charlotte Flair stunned in a pink swimsuit, drawing similar excitement from the WWE universe.
As the French Open rolls on, expect more stylish moments from Stephens—and perhaps a few more flashbacks to that legendary SI shoot. After all, as she proved in Aruba, she knows how to make a splash.
