Sofia Kenin, who won the Australian Open recently suffered a shocking defeat in the first round as she crashed out of the ongoing Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. (Getty Images)
Two former Grand Slam champions – Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin collide in the round of 128 of the 2023 Indian Wells on Wednesday.
The experienced campaigner did not have a great start to the season as she lost in the first rounds of the ASB Classic, the Hobart International, and the Australian Open. She found some form in the Merida Open where she made it to the quarterfinals where she lost to eventual champion Camila Giorgi.
The American star followed it up with another run to the quarterfinals, this time at the ATX Open. Last year, Stephens crashed out in the first round following a loss to Naomi Osaka after winning the first set. Stephens will hope to have a longer run in the tournament this time.
The 24-year-old managed to win her first match of the season in the ASB Classic against Wang Xinyu. Kenin was ousted in the second round by eventual champion Coco Gauff. Kenin followed it up with a run to the semis of the Hobart International. Her semi-final loss was against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. In the Australian Open, Kenin lost to Victoria Azarenka in the first round.
Kenin lost to Jule Niemeier in the round of 32 of the Linz Open. The Qatar Open followed where Kenin made it to the round of 16 where she was outplayed by Veronika Kudermetova. Kenin lost to Marie Bouzkova in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships and she hasn’t played since that loss.
Sloane Stephens defeated Sofia Kenin in their only previous meeting which was in the round of 64 of the 2022 Canadian Open. Stephens won the match 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 and therefore has a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head scoreline.
Prediction: Sloane Stephens to win in straight sets.
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