23-year-old Sloane Stephens has withdrawn from the 2016 US Open after continuing to suffer with a right foot injury, which also kept her out of the WTA events at Cincinnati and New Haven.

Mixed results in the 2016 season

Stephens best result in New York came back in 2013 where she reached the fourth round stage, losing to Serena Williams 6-4, 6-1. The American's strongest run at a Grand Slam came earlier in that year after reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open. Since then the 23-year-old has been unable to replicate that form at the majors, only going as far as the last 16 stage at the French Open since her golden year of 2013.

While the world number 25 has not achieved in the Grand Slams this year, the American has captured three WTA titles, first in Auckland, then Acapulco, and most recently, at the Charleston Open back in April.

The American last played when representing her country at the Olympics in Rio, where she fell to Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.

Stephens withdrawal means that Olympic Champion Puig will now be seeded at the US Open. Photo: Getty
Stephens withdrawal means that Olympic Champion Puig will now be seeded at the US Open. Photo: Getty

Olympic Champion Monica Puig will now be seeded

As the 24th seed in the final Grand Slam of the year, Stephens withdrawal means that the Olympic champion in the women's singles Monica Puig will now be seeded at the US Open. Puig became Puerto Rico's first gold medalist at an Olympic games, writing her name into tennis folklore in Rio, defeating Australian Open champion and world number two Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

The world number 34 entered Friday's draw as the 32nd seed, with the safe knowledge that she could not face the likes of Williams and Kerber in round one. The Puerto Rican has been drawn to face China's Zheng Saisai in round one at Flushing Meadows.

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About the author
Joshua Coase
2nd Year Multimedia Journalism Bournemouth University, UK - Accredited Journalist for VAVEL USA Tennis and writer for VAVEL UK AFC Bournemouth section.