Leylah Fernandez vs Sloane Stephens: 2024 Charleston Open - Preview & Prediction

An interesting matchup between Leylah Fernandez and Sloane Stephens is coming up at the 2024 Charleston Open.

Fernandez hasn't had the most spectacular year so far with a 7-7 record, but she's certainly capable of playing some amazing tennis. There were some moments when she amazed with her tennis, proving she still has it, but consistency remains the never-ending problem.

A similar can be said for Stephens, who also had some amazing moments this year on the court but largely struggled to keep it consistent. She has a 10-8 record so far, including one win at the Charleston Open, which might be crucial for her in this match.

This will be Fernandez's first match at this WTA 500 event this year, and that can be quite tricky. Stephens already played one, so she'll know what to expect a little better.

Head-to-head:

I think the matchup itself will mostly depend on how Fernandez plays. She has a really nasty forehand that can do a lot of damage on clay courts, even though this is green clay, which is a bit different. The serve will be important for Stephens, as she'll be punished heavily if she doesn't serve well.

We actually saw this matchup three times, and Fernandez won all of those matches. They were played quite a while ago, with the most recent one being in 2021, so we can't really use them as an example of how this upcoming meeting might go.

Prediction:

I still think that Fernandez is the player more likely to win this match because she has more weapons than Stephens. That matters on a court like the one in Charleston, but the question will be whether she'll actually show up at her best level.

Prediction: Leylah Fernandez to win in two sets.

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