Marketa Vondrousova vs Sloane Stephens Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 16/08/2023, 16:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 17/08/2023 at 06:29 in Tennis Predictions

Unseeded Sloane Stephens bids to cause another upset in the Western & Southern Open. Stephens beat the sixth seed Caroline Garcia in round two and faces the tenth seeded Marketa Vondrousova in the last 16 of this WTA 1000 hardcourt event. The first round of this tournament saw Stephens get a straight sets win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto. That earned her the match against the sixth seed and Stephens had to come from behind to get the shock win. The first set was lost 6-4 but the next two were both won by that same scoreline. The American began this tournament ranked 38th but is up two places in the live rankings. If winning this match, the quarter finals would see her (or Vondrousova) facing either top seed Iga Swiatek or Zheng Qinwen. Stephens reached the last 16 in Montreal as the build-up to the US Open continues. On hard courts this year, Stephens has got to quarter finals in Merida and Houston. Other successes have come on clay.

Marketa Vondrousova is ranked tenth in the world and playing only her second tournament since winning Wimbledon. Her last tournament was the hard court event held in Montreal where she lost in the last 16 to Coco Gauff and only won three games. Her best hard court performance this year has been reaching the last four in Linz. A quarter final appearance was also made in Adelaide. Another deep run would boost her confidence as we approach the final Grand Slam of the year. Vondrousova has started well with straight sets wins over Katerina Sinakova and Anastasia Potapova. Her first round win was the first she'd ever had in Cincinnati having lost in the first round three times. With two good wins behind her, Vondrousova can get the win but have a side bet on it taking her three sets.