Stephens and Kamau Murray bring tennis to Chicago with WTT

Sloane Stephens, US Open champion and the 2018 ESPYs Best Female Tennis Player winner, is taking tennis to Chicago.

On July 27, Stephens will suit up for the Philadelphia Freedoms—the World Team Tennis team owned by Billie Jean King—for a one-night only match in Chicago. It will be the world No. 3's second WTT match of the season as she is playing on Thursday in Philadelphia.

The Windy City has a special place in her heart as the hometown of the American's coach, Kamau Murray. Murray founded XS Tennis, which will host the match between the Philadelphia Freedoms and the Washington Kastles.

"We love seeing kids grow and introducing them to the game of tennis and giving them opportunity," Stephens said in a phone conference. "I think that's one thing that we do share in common that's very important for both of us. It's really special to be able to play in Chicago and it benefits the [XS Tennis and Education] Foundation. I think it's a really great opportunity."

XS Tennis Village is a brand new 112,000 square foot athletic and academic center in the south side of Chicago. The center includes 27 indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a 10,000 square foot gym and a 5,000 square foot academic center. The mission of XS Tennis is to provide a safe place for athletes, underserved youth and the local community to participate in sports and improve their education.

"I go and practice [in Chicago]. The new facility is built," Stephens said. "Just seeing the whole thing evolve I think it's super awesome. It's a great faculty and he's done an amazing, amazing thing."

Stephens most recently lost her opening match at Wimbledon, but overall, she has enjoyed a stellar 2018 season. She got off to a slow start before capturing her second-biggest title in Miami before making a run to the French Open final.

This week, Stephens was honored with her first career ESPY award after being named the 2018 Best Female Tennis Player.

The 25-year-old is part of a new wave of tennis coming to Chicago. The city hasn't seen pro tennis in over two decades, but that's changing fast. After the WTT match, the XS Tennis Village will host the Chicago's first-ever ATP Challenger Tour/WTA 125K Series tournament during the first week of September.

The nearby United Center will also be the site of the second annual Laver Cup, starting on September 21. With more and more quality pro tennis taking place in Chicago, local children will be inspired to pick up the sport.

"Obviously I never in my life thought that tennis would give me all these great opportunities to be who I am now," Stephens said. "I think it's really cool to give another kid an opportunity to be like, 'Oh that could be me one day.'"

"I hope I can give a kid that feeling that maybe they can be a professional tennis player."

Strokes of Genius is a world-class documentary capturing the historic 13-year rivalry between tennis icons Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It is timed for release as the anticipation crests with Roger as returning champion, 10 years after their famed 2008 Wimbledon championship – an epic match so close and so reflective of their competitive balance that, in the end, the true winner was the sport itself.

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