Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva – Second Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 French Open
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva on and what time does it start? Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva will take place on Wednesday 31st May, 2023 – not before 13:15 (UK)
Where is Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva taking place? Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva will take place at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France
What surface is Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva being played on? Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva
What channel is Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva on in the UK? Eurosport have the rights to the French Open in the UK
Where can I stream Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva in the UK? discovery+ subscribers can stream Sloane Stephens vs Varvara Gracheva live while the match can be streamed on Eurosport Player and Amazon Prime Video if it is televised
THE PREDICTION
Former world number three Sloane Stephens handed Karolina Pliskova a first-set bagel on Monday in a hugely impressive, and tentatively encouraging, opening match at Roland-Garros. The current world number 30 reached the quarter-finals here last season before defeat to Coco Gauff and despite winning the US Open in 2017 she has most consistently performed here in Paris with eight of her 11 previous appearances seeing runs to the round of 16 at least, including in 2018 where she finished runner-up to Simona Halep. It is hard to back Stephens with total confidence as one of the more erratic, but also most naturally talented, players on tour but the American has lost just once at this stage of Roland-Garros to suggest she is the slight favourite in this third encounter with Varvara Gracheva this season. 22-year-old Gracheva could break the top 40 on tour for the first time after beating Dalma Galfi in three sets on Monday and she has reached the third round in each of her last two appearances in Paris.
The Russian beat Stephens in straight sets en-route to the Austin Open final in March to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record but Stephens took their first meeting this year in three tight sets the week before at the Merida Open. Gracheva has taken at least a set in each of their three meetings so far to offer a suitable way to avoid picking the winner here but it is hard not to get caught up in Stephens’ first round performance. Leave this match out of an accumulator but otherwise take Stephens to win on her favoured surface.
