World number 34, American, Soane Stephens will be up against Russia’s 30-year-old Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round of the 2020 French Open on Monday, September 28. The match begins at around 12.00 pm local time (11.00 am BST). Get the live streaming options of this Sloane Stephens v Vitalia Diatchenko match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Sloane Stephens v Vitalia Diatchenko Head to Head
This will be the first time that Stephens and Diatchenko will face off in a competitive match at this level.
Also Read:
2018 Finalist Stephens Looking Out of Form on Clay
When Stephens reached the final at Roland Garros two years ago, she was a top 10 player and had a dream run during those two weeks. She only dropped one set on her way to the finals and played some scintillating tennis.
Going into this year’s French Open, however, Stephens is looking a shadow of the 2018 player. She is currently struggling to adapt on the surface and has only played four matches on the surface this year, losing three of them.
Since the season resumed, the American has lost both her matches on clay at Rome and Strasbourg, second of which was against world number 83 Nao Hibino from Japan.
She will have to find her form quickly if she wants to continue her impressive record here. This is the ninth time that the 27-year-old will be playing in Paris and except for the first year, she has always managed to reach at least the third round. Her eight appearances here includes a final appearance, a quarter-final run, four round of 16 births and a single third-round run.
It is very much clear that the American is lacking confidence this year as she has struggled for consistency. She lost five out of the six matches she played at the start of the season before it was halted and lost in the first round at four out of five events she has played in since season restarted. Though she looked much better at the US Open, where she reached the third round.
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Playing on the WTA Tour Not Going as Planned for Diatchenko
After winning six ITF titles and one WTA title last year, the Russian mainly focused on playing WTA events this calendar year. But that plan has not really gone well as she is yet to win a main draw match this year. She reached the main draw from the qualifying rounds at Adelaide at the start of the season but crashed out in the opening round.
Her improved ranking from last year’s impressive run of results meant that at the Australian Open she did not have to go through the qualifying rounds.
But once again she was out in the first round and a similar tale followed at her home event in St. Petersburg as well. Post the season resumed after the pandemic break, she has lost both her matches at Lyon and Cincinnati. These poor results have seen her drop out of the top 100 rankings as well.
This will be the eighth time she will be playing in Paris and her second-round appearances in 2009 & 2015 remain her best showings so far.
Sloane Stephens v Vitalia Diatchenko Prediction and Tip
This match has come at the right time for the American. Her opponent is struggling and she should be able to go through relatively easily.
Tip: Stephens to win: 2/5 (bet365)
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The French Open 2020 will be played from September 27 to October 11. You can watch & bet on the French Open here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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