Sara Errani vs Sloane Stephens Prediction & Betting Tips - Parma, Italy, Qualifying

Prediction published on 19/05/2021, 18:30  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/05/2021 at 19:30 in Tennis Predictions

If you take the highest rankings achieved by Sloane Stephens and Sara Errani and add them together, the answer is eight. However, add together their current rankings and the total is 173. Sloane Stephens was world number three just two years ago, now she's 65th. Just this year her ranking has fallen 26 places. Her run to the last eight of the Emilia Romagna will help reverse that decline. Stephens is a former French Open finalist so knows her way around a clay court. It's been a major struggle this year for Stephens but her start to the clay court season has gone well. Charleston saw her reach the last eight and the last 32 in Madrid. This week has seen her get wins over Catherine McNally and fourth seeded Daria Kasatkina. She's met Sara Errani just twice, it's 1-1 bu their last meeting was nine years ago.

Sara Errani is ranked 108th in the world and the Italian was given a wild card entry into this tournament. Nine years ago she lost to Maria Sharapova in the French Open final. Three more good years followed but it's been downhill ever since. The last 32 of the Australian Ope was made this year with five matches needed to be won to reach that stage. The next few months saw a series of defeats, many against fellow players outside the top 100. Only one match has been won in her last three tournaments. Better form has been shown this week with wins over Ana Bogadan and seventh seeded Sara Sorriba Tormo, both in three sets. Stephens can be backed to win this match.