Sloane Stephens Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Sloane Stephens' grandmother, aunt died from COVID-19

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jan 14, 2021 1:42 PM ET

American tennis star Sloane Stephens shared heartbreaking news via Twitter on Thursday when she announced that both her grandmother and aunt passed away due to COVID-19.

The 27-year-old who won the 2017 US Open explained that her "Auntie Anna" died on Dec. 26. Her grandmother passed away last Sunday.

My heartache feels endlessly deep.. We recently put my grandma and aunt to rest within weeks of each other. Covid took Auntie Anna the day after Christmas and then took my grandmother home last Sunday.
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) January 14, 2021

Grandma showed me how powerful we can be in life. How gratitude takes you farther. That kindness wins every time. We celebrate your beautiful soul, your big smile, your sassy ways- your whole heart.. pic.twitter.com/2KIRLhDyjm
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) January 14, 2021

Grandma and Auntie Anna, I know I’ll hear your voices when I sit down to pray. You’re always with me. I love you
Rest In Peace ❤️
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) January 14, 2021

Stephens, currently No. 39 in the official WTA rankings, is the latest prominent sports figure to share how the coronavirus pandemic has directly impacted her life and family. Back in early December, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns explained that seven relatives, including his mother, died due to complications caused by COVID-19 since the start of the health crisis.

While vaccines are becoming available throughout the United States, Stephens' tweets should remind everyone to continue to take the pandemic seriously and follow health and safety guidelines through the winter months.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: