With the Indian Wells Masters just around the corner, every tournament leading up to it is crucial. And the WTA Austin Open is the one Sloane Stephens has her eyes set on. The home favorite will go up against Tereza Martincova in the first round, and there’s no doubt the clash will be full of high-intensity tennis and entertainment. However, given their recent results, both of them would be desperate for a win to set themselves up for the rest of the tournament, as well as the upcoming ones. But only one of them can take the win. Who’s it going to be?

Sloane Stephens vs Tereza Martincova: Preview

Stephens began her 2024 stint at the Brisbane International, where she saw a second-round exit. The Hobart International wasn’t much better, where the former US Open champion bowed out in the first round. However, the former World No.3 did find a little success at the Australian Open, where she reached the third round, eventually losing to Anna Kalinskaya.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t keep that momentum going and saw the same fate as Hobart in the Qatar Open with a first-round exit. Needless to say, playing for the first time on home soil in 2024, Sloane Stephens would want to get back to winning ways. On the other side of the net, Tereza Martincova started 2024 in the ASB Classics and was eliminated in the first round after winning two qualifiers. As for the Happy Slam, she lost in the first qualifier.

She followed that with three Challenger tournaments and found herself in a run to the semifinals in the ITF France 05A. In the other two tournaments that followed – the ITF France 06A and the Dubai Championships – she bowed out in the first round and the first qualifier, respectively. Just like Sloane Stephens, Tereza Martinova would want to get back in form and on the path to victory. That being said, how do they stack up against each other? 

Stephens vs Martincova: Head-to-Head

Stephens and Martincova have not played against each other on the WTA Tour yet. With a 0-0 head-to-head record, it’ll be new territory for both of them. They’ll likely come into the match with strategies based on watching tapes from previous matches of each other. Given that, it’ll be interesting to see who executes their plan better to emerge victorious. 

Prediction: Sloane Stephens to be the victor

While the American player has not managed to keep her momentum going for long periods recently, she still has much more experience than her Czech opponent. She has won 7 singles titles (compared to Martincova’s 0), one of which was the 2017 US Open crown. Not to mention, in front of her home crowd, just like it’ll be in Austin. Considering that she’ll have the home-crowd support, it’s likely that the American will seal the victory in Texas at the WTA 250 event.

However, given the unpredictability of women’s tennis, we can’t count Tereza Martincova out completely. Although Sloane Stephens may have a higher chance of winning, there’s no doubt it’ll be an exciting match. That being said, who do you think will take home the win tonight?

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