Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens Preview & Prediction | 2024 Italian Open | Second Round
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THE FACTS
What is this tournament classed as in terms of ranking points? WTA 1000
When is Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens on and what time does it start? Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens will take place on Thursday 9th May, 2024 – not before 16:20 (UK)
Where is Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens taking place? Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens will take place at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy
What surface is Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens being played on? Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens
What channel is Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens on in the UK? Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream Yulia Putintseva vs Sloane Stephens live on Sky Go
THE PREDICTION
This promises to be one of the best matches of the round between world number 35 Sloane Stephens and number 41 Yulia Putintseva, with the pair seeing sets go both ways in all six of their previous matches in a finely-poised 3-3 head-to-head. Both players are at their best on clay and both have recently enjoyed upturns in form, with Stephens claiming her eighth WTA title at the Rouen Open last month and Putintseva finding some rare consistency to reach at least the round of 16 in each of her last three tournaments – all Masters events – including quarter-finals in her last two in Miami and Madrid.
29-year-old Putintseva took Elena Rybakina to three sets before defeat in the last eight in Madrid last Wednesday and she avoided a seriously tough opener over home hopeful Martina Trevisan on Tuesday to look the slight favourite here. Stephens, however, has needed the likes of in-form Maria Sakkari and Danielle Collins to oust her from recent tournaments and she is by far the better of the two at their respective best levels – although the American rarely finds hers.
Three sets seems a tempting pick but the suitably cautious call, with no real ‘safe’ option between these highly unpredictable players, is taking Putintseva to earn at least a set to leave the victor up to chance. Keep this match away from any promising accumulators.
TIP: YULIA PUTINTSEVA TO WIN A SET
