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Match Details
Fixture: (6) Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette
Date: April 21, 2024
Tournament: Open Calfinances Rouen Metropole 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Kindarena Sports Complex in Rouen, France
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €267,082
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/TC Plus | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette preview
The Stuttgart Open will crown a new champion as two first-time finalists — Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette — will lock horns in the summit clash of the 2024 edition.
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Stephens, the sixth seed at this year’s tournament, opened her campaign with three-set win over compatriot Peyton Stearns and has been on a roll since. She has posted straight-sets wins over quality opponents in the form of Karolina Pliskova, Yue Yuan and Caroline Garcia.
Playing in her first final of a season where she has modest win-loss record of 14-9, the American will be keen to go all the way.
Linette, meanwhile, came into the tournament with a poor 5-10 win-loss for the season. In fact, she had only three wins to show for before the start of the clay season.
A return to her beloved red dirt, however, saw her turn things around. Linette posted a couple of solid wins over Petra Martic and Dayana Yastermska in Charleston before arriving in Rouen.
Like Stephens, the Pole has also dropped only one set en-route to the final. The three-setter came in her semifinal, where she ousted third seed Anhelina Kalinina 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette head-to-head
Stephens leads the head-to-head against Linette 3-0. The duo, however, have not crossed paths since 2019.
Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette prediction
Given their lopsided past head-to-head record, Stephens will come into the contest as a heavy favorite.
The American has been at her vintage best all week, slugging it out from the baseline against big-hitters like Garcia and Pliskova. Clay is where she excels as the surface just gives her that bit extra time to wind up her forehand and also send as many balls back as possible.
Unfortunately for her, Linette is also a maverick on the surface. The Pole, a classic counterpuncher like Stephens, is a natural when it comes to her movement on the red dirt.
Stephens will find it very hard to extract errors from Linette, who does not like to give away anything for free.
Fans can expect a close contest with some gruelling rallies from the baseline. Stephens has more experience playing on the big stage, but Linette has momentum that has been building up over the last few weeks and could spring a surprise.
Prediction: Linette to win in three sets
