Tennis Pro Sloane Stephens on “the Importance of Rituals”

It’s been a summer for women in sports, and it’s nowhere near over. This weekend, the US Open festivities have kicked off and will run through September 8, and Sloane Stephens is present for the action at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.

Coinciding with the Open is Stephens’ launch of a passion project: a body care brand, Doc + Glo, available August 21. A rep for the brand says Doc + Glo “is specifically formulated for bodies in motion.”

It’s a welcome concept in an era when women’s health and women’s sports are both finally getting the attention they should—especially when you consider how consciously Stephens’ team developed the line. We’re told all Doc + Glo products are hypoallergenic, gluten free, vegan, EU and Sephora clean, cruelty free, dermatologist-tested, and fragrance-free.

Doc + Glo products include:

• The No. 3161 Game-Changing Deodorant, reportedly retailing for $18, which features “active enzymes [to] neutralize body odor, as gentle acids lower underarm pH, preventing malodorous bacteria.”
• The 24/7 Hustle Deodorizing Body Mist, $22, with “anti-microbial benefits without stripping skin of moisture” as well as “glycofilm [that] forms a breathable protective film against pollution and UV radiation.”

So, we may as well add “entrepreneurship” and “science” to the list of summer 2024 achievements, too.

Just ahead of her Thursday exhibition at the US Open, Stephens talked with The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about this launch and why it’s important to keep women’s bodies in center court of conversation.

ELSA /STAFF/ RD.COM

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The Healthy: Sloane, you do such meaningful work out in the world. We just watched the video of the Sloane Stephens Doc & Glo scholarship recipients. You have got to be really busy, managing so many ventures while continuing to play tennis. How do you keep a level head when things are hectic?

Sloane Stephens: Aww! Doc & Glo is named after my grandparents and was inspired by the lessons of self-care that they imparted onto me and the lessons I’ve learned traveling the world playing tennis. The other half of Doc & Glo, my grandfather Dr. Noel Smith, used to always tell me “in calmness and confidence,” and that became a mantra of mine. My life is very full, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m always brought back to his reminder that everything is possible in its own time, I just need to continue staying calm and confident.

The Healthy: Talk to us, please, about this product line. It sounds amazing. Why were you passionate about creating these two particular products?

Sloane Stephens: Thank you! I’ve been working on this business for four years and am so proud that the time has come for everyone to experience the products for themselves. I’ve always wanted to build my own brand in this space but the idea for this exact direction took shape during the pandemic when we were still traveling for the tennis tour but locker room facilities and amenities were really limited. I started thinking about the importance of rituals, hygiene and self-care on not only my physical health, but my mental health.

We have other products formulated and in our pipeline for future launches, but I wanted to start with the deodorant and deodorizing mist because it’s the perfect odor-combatting duo that expresses our point of view as a brand. I very deliberately crafted a line that is gender-neutral and meant for all bodies in motion, however someone embodies that in their own life. I worked with the lab to custom-formulate these products from scratch and have tested every iteration through matches, training, travel days, and on all of my coaches and loved ones.

The Healthy: Launching products like this helps further our societal openness around women’s health, which is arguably even more politicized than ever lately. Meanwhile, we sweat, we menstruate, and later, we encounter menopause. As an athlete, are you drawn to the idea of helping advance this conversation and making it more OK for us to embrace our bodies and love ourselves?

Sloane Stephens: I am fully here for this conversation! We all have so much going on and are doing our best to be fully present for ourselves and those around us. Only when we shed some of the stigma and start being a little more honest about the ups and downs can people feel more comfortable embracing their own stories and vulnerabilities.  For me, I’m able to show up as my best self when I feel confident and grounded in my self-care routines. With my life lived in motion, showing up into spaces feeling confident, funk-free, and refreshed helps me bring my best self into any situation, and I hope that Doc & Glo encourages others to feel the same way in their lives.

The Healthy: You have been a force in helping us reach the present moment in terms of where we are with women’s professional athletics right now. Across several sports, women are so rightfully celebrated. How do you feel about this time we’re in?

Sloane Stephens: Finally!! So many generations of women have worked really hard and forged the path for those of us behind them, and it feels like a really great time for women’s sports right now across so many sports. It’s up to all of us to continue pushing forward.

The Healthy: Are there any significant goals you have your sights on next, or are you in an era of soaking things in right now and enjoying the moment?

Sloane Stephens: Yes! I’m always working and creating things but I’ve learned throughout my career how important it is to appreciate the view along the way—like this launch week for Doc & Glo that’s four years of silent work in the making.

The Healthy: What’s one self-care routine you refuse to skip?

Sloane Stephens: Scalding hot showers—got to have it piping hot. I always moisturize after to make sure I’m not drying out my skin, but the hot water after a long day of sweat, SPF, and the elements just feels so cleansing. Our pipeline of future Doc & Glo launches addresses some of this, so stay tuned.