Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sloane Stephens Honored Amidst U.S. Open Buzz
Sloane Stephens Honored Amidst U.S. Open Buzz
31 Aug
Summary
- Gala raised $2.7 million for the U.S.T.A. Foundation.
- Honoree Sloane Stephens competed in the tournament.
- Event was moved to a temporary venue on tournament grounds.
The U.S. Open's annual opening night gala, a fundraiser for the U.S.T.A. Foundation, recently took place, successfully raising $2.7 million.
This year's event honored Sloane Stephens, the 2017 women's singles champion, who attended the ceremony shortly after a practice session for her first-round match. Stephens noted the unique experience of accepting an award the day before a Grand Slam began.
The gala was held in a temporary venue on the grounds of the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The sounds of tennis practice occasionally punctuated the evening's speeches and proceedings.
Notable attendees included fashion designer Vera Wang, socialite Cheryl Scharf, actor Orlando Bloom, and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. Broadcast luminary Katie Couric also attended the event, which typically draws celebrities and tennis enthusiasts.
Following dinner, guests moved to the President's Suite to watch matches, where legends Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams both experienced losses in humid conditions. Sloane Stephens departed early to prepare for her competition the following day.
