"Sending you big hugs and strength" - Sloane Stephens sends heartfelt message to a cancer-stricken fan after ATX Open interaction

Sloane Stephens has gladdened a cancer-striken fan by sending her heartfelt messages ahead of her first chemotherapy session.

Stephens was up against Taylor Townsend in the first round of the ATX Open on Tuesday. After winning the match, the American distributed autographed tennis balls to fans, and incidentally, one of the balls was caught by the cancer patient.

Ahead of her first chemotherapy session, the fan took to social media to convey her happiness at having caught the ball. On this occasion, she also expressed her admiration for Stephens and remarked that the ball gave her extra strength in her fight against the disease.

"I love you and your game! I caught one of your autographed balls last night. It’s here with me at my first chemo session. Bringing me strength!," she wrote on Twitter.

Replying to the tweet from the cancer-stricken fan, the former US Open champion sent her love and strength to fight the disease.

"Love you more! So happy you got the ball! Sending you big hugs and strength- You got this!!!!!," Stephens' tweet read.

Meanwhile, at the ATX Open, Stephens qualified for the quarterfinals after winning against Heather Watson in straight sets on Wednesday. The American triumphed over the Brit in one hour and 27 minutes.

---

A look at how Sloane Stephens fared so far in 2023

Sloane Stephens at the 2023 Hobart International - Day 1

Sloane Stephens commenced her 2023 campaign on a rather sub-standard note as the American had to wait until late February to get the first win of the season under her belt.

Stephens started off the season at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Despite entering the tournament as the second seed, the world No. 51 suffered a first-round defeat against Rebeka Masarova in straight sets (6-3, 7-6 (5)).

Another first-round defeat approached Stephens' way at Hobart International as she crumbled against fellow compatriot Lauren Davis again in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). At the Australian Open, she locked horns with Anastasia Potapova in the opening match. She lost 7-6 (2), 6-4 against the Russian to bring her campaign Down Under to a premature end.

It was only at the Merida Open that Stephens eventually tasted her first victory of 2023. She defeated Leolia Jeanjean and Varvara Gracheva in the first and second rounds respectively. However, she collapsed against Camila Giorgi in the quarterfinals without winning a single game in the entire match.

Sloane Stephens will be keen to turn things around and make a deep run at the ongoing ATX Open. She will lock horns with Gracheva in the quarterfinals on Thursday.