2021 US Open First Round – Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens taking place? Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
When is Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens on and what time does it start? Monday 30th August, 2021 – not before 17:00 (UK)
What surface is Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens being played on? Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens
What channel is Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens on in the UK? Amazon have exclusive rights to show the 2021 US Open in the UK so it is worth checking the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs for Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens
Where can I stream Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to stream Madison Keys vs Sloane Stephens live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
MADISON KEYS
Former US Open finalist Madison Keys has five WTA titles to her name, including a Masters trophy from the 2019 Cincinnati Open. She finished runner-up to Sloane Stephens here in 2017 and made the semi-finals of both Roland-Garros and the US Open a year later. The 26-year-old showed flashes of promise at Wimbledon before defeat in the round of 16 last month but she has lost three matches in a row since.
SLOANE STEPHENS
World number 64 Sloane Stephens won her only Grand Slam title at the 2017 US Open with a stunning campaign. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the most talented players of her generation on her day, although she has struggled in recent seasons to show that side to her constantly enough. Her last of six WTA titles came at the Miami Open in 2018 in a year that also saw her finish runner-up to Simona Halep at Roland-Garros.
THE PREDICTION
This is always a huge tie on the WTA tour but Madison Keys versus Sloane Stephens holds all the more weight at the US Open, where Stephens won her only Grand Slam title at the hands of Keys back in 2017. Stephens was inspired in that final, conceding just three games to Keys in a straight-sets thrashing, and she leads their head-to-head record 4-2 with three other wins in straight sets. Keys, though, has won two of their last three encounters including their most recent match at the Italian Open, both in three sets. Plenty of what happens here will be down to which version of Sloane Stephens turns up at Flushing Meadows but considering she has taken a set in all six of their matches, take the 2017 US Open champion to win at least a set here.
