The Hug Felt Round the World

In Flushing, Queens on a perfect September day that yielded anything but perfect tennis – a lopsided Grand-Slam final revealed something magical about the American side of women’s tennis: sisterhood.

Not since 1981 had the U.S. Open hosted four American women semi-finalists. In the final, Sloane Stephens dominated Madison Keys in straight sets (6-3 – 6-0).

Sloane’s road to her first Grand Slam title was anything but routine. Surgery on her foot sidelined her for 11 months and ranked her as 975th in the world. Impressive as her U.S. Open run was (and it was remarkable), it was the hug felt around the world that gave me goosebumps as I rose from my seat in Section 310, Row W at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

In a society that’s addicted to talking about grace but too afraid to practice it, the hug between Sloane and Madison got really real...really fast. Like all great moments in sports, their embrace wasn’t about tennis. It was about the longing we all have to win and lose like champions. It was about breaking down the negative perceptions of the way women have been portrayed to treat one another. It was about girl power.

Leverage Empathy as an Energizer

Let’s face it, we all get drained. When the ball doesn’t bounce the way we’ve anticipated it’s easy to feel that we’re in it alone. In a room full of cheerleaders, we see only adversaries. This is the power of perception. Our perception of reality has the ability to alter the truth and distort our experiences.

Empathy is the antidote that turns negative perception on the head of our racquet. When Sloane Stephens wrapped her arms around Madison Keys, she didn’t devalue her win, she accelerated it. As their bodies intertwined, Sloane and Madison exemplified the transformative power of sisterhood.

In a society that dedicates so much time presenting images of women in unhealthy competition, Sloane and Madison have given us an image that serves as the standard for how women can approach each other on, and off the court.

Exhibit Grace as a Multiplier

No one would have blamed Sloane if she ran around the court with the innocence and awkwardness of a child. After all, she’d just won her first Grand Slam title. The script was supposed to be giddiness and frivolity, not stoicism and control.

And this is exactly why her reaction was so inspiring. Sloane used grace to multiply her achievement. Her intentionality proved that there is a right way to win when someone has to lose. Sloane’s kindness gave Madison the ability to cherish her journey as a finalist at the U.S. Open shattering Ricky Bobby’s notion that if you’re not first, you’re last.

Replay & Reevaluate

In a world where good news is difficult to google, the image of Sloane and Madison hugging should be committed to memory. Their display of sisterhood is the script for which all women and men should rehearse and recite. As far as sportsmanship is concerned, this should be the first analogy we retell.

Only time will reveal the accolades that Stephens will capture on the court. But one thing's for sure, her rise at the Open couldn't have been possible without her belief that she was built to play for tennis's greatest prize on its biggest stage.

Our capacity to display empathy begins with our belief in ourselves. Instead of criticizing our inadequacies, we must seek to celebrate our strengths. When we love ourselves openly and honestly, we create a space where we can root for, celebrate with, and comfort one another.