Altidore won’t back down from fiancée

But he’s keeping their tennis game results to himself Sloane Stephens, a world-ranked tennis player, is engaged to TFC’s Jozy Altidore.

Put a star soccer striker and world-ranked tennis player together and what have you got?

One competitive couple, when it comes to Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore and world No. 8 Sloane Stephens.

“We race to the car, man,” Altidore said with a wide grin. “I’m not going to lie to you, every day there’s a race to something. It’s funny.

“But it’s all fun and games with her. It’s good. We have a really good relationship obviously. We’re excited to take the next step.”

The two Florida natives, who started dating in 2016, announced their engagement in late April via social media.

The 29-year-old Altidore, in his fifth season with TFC, signed a three-year contract extension in February that will keep him in Toronto through the 2022 season.

The 26-year-old Stephens, who won the U.S. Open in 2017, is seeded eighth going into the French Open. Altidore — fined by the league on Tuesday for kicking a ball into the stands in Saturday’s home loss to Philadelphia — said he has not been afraid to step on the tennis court with Stephens.

“We’ve sparred a couple of times. I’ll keep the results to myself,” he said with a laugh.

Altidore says the two have got better at juggling their schedules to maximize time together.

“Our lives are very intertwined and if there is a jampacked moment, we make time and that’s the great thing about it. We always make sure we put our relationship first and make time to see each other, be it games or just getting a quick getaway — those type of things.”

But he acknowledged it hasn’t got any easier watching his fiancée at work.

“Still hard to watch. I’m still taking forehands into my pillow and stuff like that ... You think you get used to it but you don’t. I want her to do well so much all the time. I’m out there with her even though I’m not.

“It’s tough to watch but obviously I admire watching her. She’s an incredible athlete — one of the very best.”

Altidore and TFC host Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United on Wednesday night at BMO Field. Rooney has six goals for D.C. United, four of which are game-winners.

The teams are near opposites when it comes to goals. Toronto ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging 2.20 goals a game, and 18th in conceding, at 1.70 a game. D.C. is 13th on offence (1.42 goals a game) and third on defence (0.92 goals).

United finished 15 points ahead of Toronto last season despite a miserable 1-9-7 road record, due in part to a frontend-loaded schedule while Au

TONIGHT

di Field was finishing construction. The team arrives with a league-leading 3-1-1 road mark this year. Toronto will be without defender Laurent Ciman, who came off with an ankle injury on the weekend against Philadelphia. Vanney says the Belgian international will likely be out “a week or so.” Veteran Drew Moor, who was on the bench Saturday after missing five games because of injury, would seem a natural replacement. Altidore saw action off the bench on the weekend and is expected start.

TFC coach Greg Vanney has called for more aggression in attack, while staying connected at the back and making good decisions in transition.

D.C. United at TFC BMO Field 8 p.m. (TSN)