WTA World No.8 Sloane Stephens has announced that she is engaged to marry US international soccer player Jozy Altidore.

Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, made the announcement on social media on Monday in a joint post with the Toronto FC forward.

The 29-year-old Altidore posted: “Forever starts now,” while Stephens' message was: “Forever yes.”

Childhood friends, the pair were reconnected in 2016 and began a relationship, having excelled in their respective sports.

The 26-year-old has reached as high as WTA World No.3 and has made at least the quarterfinal of all four Grand Slam events, finishing as runner-up to Simona Halep at the French Open last year, having won in New York previously. 

She won the Fed Cup with the American team in 2017 and her most recent action came in that competition as she recorded straight-sets victories over Timea Bacsinszky and Viktorija Golubic in Texas, securing her nation’s place in the World Group for 2020.

Altidore, meanwhile, has made over 100 appearances for the US international soccer team, scoring 41 goals in the process. His career has taken him to the top leagues in Spain, England and North America.

The news comes a fortnight after WTA World No.12 Caroline Wozniacki held her bachelorette party in the Bahamas before her upcoming nuptials with former NBA star David Lee.