Another strong influence on Stephens’s road back has been her boyfriend, Jozy Altidore, whom she has known since she was in fifth grade. Altidore, who has had his own injury struggles, helped Stephens stay upbeat. “I don’t think there’s been a more positive person in my corner that I’ve had,” Stephens said of Altidore, who plays for Toronto FC. “When I was on the peg leg, I was with him, and I would always make fun of myself and he’d make fun of me. But he kept it really light for me, so I was never too sad.”
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When Sloane Stephens competes against Madison Keys for her first-ever Grand Slam title Saturday, it’s expected a certain someone will be watching from her private box.
As the 24-year-old tennis star defeated Venus Williams on Thursday to advance to the final round of the US Open, boyfriend and soccer stud Jozy Altidore, was spotted inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Though details surrounding their relationship remain limited — the social savvy athletes have yet to go Instagram official — the visual proof is a since deleted post from Stephens’ account, where the pair posed outside Ireland’s Kilronan Castle in early June.
But Stephens credits Altidore with her resurgence, especially as she recovered from a foot injury this year. Stephens previously dated fellow tennis star Jack Sock, 24. The couple were together in September 2013, though it’s unclear when they called it quits.
While Altidore, has not commented publicly on Stephens, the Toronto FC forward hinted at the relationship back in July, after being bitten by El Salvador’s Henry Romero club during the Gold Cup quarterfinals.
“My girl’s mad at me,” Altidore told reporters following the match.”She’s mad at me. She’s mad at Romero, because she’s like: ‘Only I can bite you, only I can grab your nipples.'”