USTA star Sloane Stephens was on hand at the Connecticut Tennis Center in New Haven to teach kids some tennis basics and to promote the non profit she supports called Soles 4 Souls.
Hundreds of students in New Haven got to swap the classroom for the tennis court on Tuesday.
For many of the 350 third graders at the free clinic hosted by the Connecticut Open, this was the first time they are being introduced to the sport and they learned tips from a pro: U.S. women’s tennis star Sloane Stephens.
“Kids are my passion,” Stephens told NBC Connecticut. “I love teaching them how to play tennis, I love introducing them to the game.”
Stephens is looking forward to competing this summer on the Yale tennis courts after missing the 2016 Connecticut Open because of a stress fracture in her foot.
“Before the U.S. Open, that will be my biggest tournament in my comeback,” she said.
Off the court, Stephens is an ambassador for the non-profit Soles 4 Souls.
“I partnered with them because I felt like there was just a lot of wasted shoes on the tour and felt like we could have a huge impact,” Stephens said.
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Last year, the Connecticut Open collected 550 pounds of shoes to be donated to people in need.
“Sloane informed me this morning that she needs us to do even better this year,” Tournament Director Anne Worcester said.
For fans planning to attend the tournament in August, be sure to bring a pair of lightly used shoes to drop off in one of the collection boxes. All of the donations will be refurbished and then donated to men, women and children around the world.
The 2017 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies runs from Aug. 18-26 in New Haven.
