Sloane Stephens vs Emma Raducanu Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Eastbourne International

Prediction published on 24/06/2024, 01:24  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 24/06/2024 at 01:39 in Tennis Predictions

World number 48 Sloane Stephens will take on wildcard Emma Raducanu in the first round of the Eastbourne International. The winner of this second career meeting between them will play second seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the quarter-finals.

Stephens has had a torrid few weeks. The American has won just once in her last seven fixtures. She had lost five successive matches before the season turned to grass. Stephens began her grass campaign in Berlin where she lost in the second round. A champion in Rouen during the clay campaign, Stephens has compiled a shaky 18-15 record and has suffered five first-round losses.

The former US Open champion has struggled on grass in her most recent appearances on the surface. She has won over 30 matches on grass but only once since 2016 has she finished with a winning record on the surface. Stephens begins the week up to 45th in the live ranking.

Emma Raducanu defeated Stephens the only other time they were paired up. That was two seasons ago in the first round in Melbourne. Considering she has improved her form in recent weeks, the Brit will arrive for this match confident of victory.

Raducanu has registered six of her 11 wins this year in her last nine outings. She is coming off a semi-final finish in Nottingham to begin her grass campaign. That was not only her best result this year but also her best performance at tour level in two seasons.

The 21-year-old former world number 10 will start the week down three places to 168th in the live ranking. Raducanu has greatly struggled with her fitness. She missed nine months before returning to the tour this year which impacted heavily her world ranking.