After earning her first win on the top level of the WTA Tour again, Sofia Kenin will try to make it two in a row against Ons Jabeur at the 2024 Italian Open in Rome.
It's been a very complicated year for Kenin, whose tennis left both her and many others puzzled. She won her first match in Rome, which was her first win on the WTA Tour since January.
Up until that point, she had lost nearly 10 consecutive matches but, for example, she did really well in doubles. Not many could explain it, but now she can add her second singles win in a row against Jabeur.
The Tunisian has had an equally confusing and complicated year but generally played better than the American. This is her first match at this year's event, and as a former finalist, she's the favorite.
Head-to-head:
Being the favourite obviously doesn't mean much, especially in this matchup, which Kenin dominated so far. They played seven times so far, and Kenin won 5 of those matches. They all came at a time when Kenin played better and believed in her tennis more.
The most recent match happened in 2021, and that was a long time ago. Jabeur has improved dramatically since then, but Kenin hasn't. These days, the consensus is that the 29-year-old is the far more consistent player, which speaks volumes.
| Sofia Kenin | Ons Jabeur | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | H2H | 2 |
| 58 | Rank | 9 |
| 25 | Age | 29 |
| 3-11 | 2024 W/L | 6-8 |
| 264-178 | Career W/L | 435-240 |
Prediction:
I really do think that we'll see a solid outing from Kenin, but I'm unsure whether she'll be able to beat Jabeur. The Tunisian found a decent level last week in Madrid, and she is likely to continue that in Rome. She's also generally a better fit on clay.
Prediction: Ons Jabeur to win in three sets.
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