Sloane Stephens struggles with mental health

Former World No.3 Sloane Stephens has revealed she has been going to therapy since the age of 13, a process she admitted has helped her navigate the tedious career of a professional athlete.

Stephens opened up about her battle with mental health issues, adding she was fortunate enough to have access to therapy through most of her life.

"I’m one of those people who now finds it very easy to say how I feel, but I’ve gone to therapy since I was 13 years old,” Stephens said, as quoted on Sportskeeda. “My mom is a psychologist. So I’ve had an extreme amount of support, but a lot of people don’t have that.

"I want people to be able to have that support and not feel judged when they feel something."

The 2017 US Open champion admitted life was difficult when she first began her journey on the WTA Tour, but has since learned to cope with any negative emotions associated with playing professional tennis.

"When I was 18 or 19 years old and a professional athlete learning my way through life, I was also juggling millions of people watching me play tennis every day. It was just unbearable," Stephens said. "But now that I'm able to recognize [when I’m not feeling well], now I know I can identify those, I find it great.

"I’m able to manage those emotions a lot easier because I know that I need to take a minute for myself. I can manage myself easier now.

”I’m thankful that I’ve been able to share my story and a lot of people have been super supportive of seeing me as myself, as a human and not just Sloane Stephens, the athlete. Once people are able to accept that there’s a ‘you’ underneath the athlete or the celebrity, it’s a lot easier to be human."