Getting Ready With Sloane Stephens For The US Open Opening Night Gala

For Sloane Stephens, the excitement around the US Open is her favorite time of the year. She’s competed in the tournament 15 times and took home the trophy in 2017 — and ahead of her 16th appearance the energy was palpable.

“It's my favorite tournament. It's where I won my biggest trophy. As an American, it's electric,” she says. “I think it's the best crowd and atmosphere that you could probably ever play in front of.”

Ahead of the her first match, Stephens was honored at the Opening Night Gala on Aug. 30, where she received the Serving Up Dreams Award for her work with the Sloane Stephens Foundation. Her organization, which she started in 2013, combines her passion for sports, mentorship, and helping under-resourced communities. Its mission is to foster growth for children through educational programs like tutoring and college prep, mental wellness activities, family events, and sports lessons. The foundation has locations in Compton, CA, Fresno, CA, and Miami Gardens, FL, and Stephens hopes to continue to expand the foundation’s impact.

“Tennis is my niche category of making a difference. A big part of myself and who I am is serving my community. And I think as I've gotten older, I've figured out what that meant to me,” she says. “We've impacted so many families, and not just through tennis, but through education, swimming, soccer, eSports, reading, and everything else.”

Ahead of the Opening Night Gala and her award recognition, Stephens gave Bustle an exclusive look at her glam prep as she got ready for the big night. The evening included two Simkhai looks, quality time with her mom, and a coin toss on the court.

Below, Stephens shares a candid look behind the scenes.

“Starting the night with glam and hair, and getting ready for a very special evening at the US Open Opening Night Gala.”

“The look is all in the details! And a Rolex is the perfect finishing to touch!”

“Arrived at the Gala in Simkhai and Louboutin, the perfect pairing for such a special night.”

“My mom and I stepping out, ready to have some fun tonight!”

“Stepping back out on the iconic US Open blue carpet to take some pictures and make my way in. It’s so surreal to be back in New York City already.”

“My favorite date for the night. My mother and Executive Director of the Sloane Stephens Foundation, Sybil, joined me for the Gala and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to share this moment with. Getting to celebrate her and all the work she’s done with the Foundation made the night that much more special. Don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“A family affair! My mom, Sybil, and my brother, Shawn, joined me on the carpet. How cute are we?”

“Having my family there for such a big moment meant so much to me. The Foundation has always been a family effort, so getting to celebrate everything we’ve built together felt incredibly full circle.”

“I’m still taking it all in. It was such an honor to receive the Serving Up Dreams Award, and an amazing reminder of how much this work means to me. There’s still so much to do, and I’m excited for everything ahead.”

“It’s still so surreal seeing this photo from my 2017 US Open win around the grounds. It’s such a special reminder of all the hard work, sacrifice, and people who helped me get to that moment.”

“My beautiful mama! Had to get a photo of her inside the Gala. Isn’t she the cutest?”

“Ended the night with the coin toss for Novak Djokovic vs. Mariano Navone! Getting to close out such a special night on the court, in another Simkhai look and La Femme shoes, was so much fun.”

“My mom and I with some of the wonderful kids that make up The Sloane Stephens Foundation, I hope to see them competing at the Slams one day!”

Fashion credits:

Gold dress: Simkai

Gold shoes: Louboutin

Yellow dress: Simkai

Yellow shoes: la Femme

Watch: Rolex