Peyton Stearns is looking to wrap the remaining half of the 2024 season on a positive note. The young American, who isn’t very regular at delivering head-turning results, can furnish laudable ones when performing at her best. That’s exactly what she’ll be looking to aim for in her upcoming encounter. The second round of the Tennis in the Land will see Stearns take on defending champion Sara Sorribes on Thursday, August 22. Who has a better chance? Let’s analyze the odds!

Peyton Stearns vs Sara Sorribes: Preview

It has been a mixed season for Stearns. The 22-year-old has struggled to produce noteworthy results at almost every tournament she has participated. Well, almost. Her last Canadian Open appearance saw a noticeable shift in her form. She reached the hardcourt event’s quarterfinal where she lost to eventual champion Jessica Pegula. However, her Cincinnati Open campaign ended prematurely when she faced a first-round exit at the hands of Paula Badosa. The American’s most triumphant result came at the Moroccan Open wherein she bagged the event’s title.

Peyton Stearns will enter the WTA 250 event’s second-round contest after finessing Moyuka Uchijima in a dramatic fashion. The No. 6 seed outclassed the Japanese talent without conceding a single game in the opening set and later, on the flip side, lost the second after securing just one game. However, the American firmly held her ground and concluded the showdown with a lop-sided three-set score line of 6-0, 1-6, 6-1.

Sorribes, on the other hand, has had a terrible season so far. While her win-loss record stands at a disheartening 12/19, suffering a second-round defeat at every event has become a norm for her this year. Before entering the WTA 250 tournament, the 27-year-old was thrashed by Barbora Krejcikova in the Paris Olympics‘ first round. However, Sorribes swiftly slides on clay. Any residual wins registered to her name came on the surface and she also reached the quarterfinal of the Moroccan Open.

Meanwhile, defending champion Sara Sorribes hardly faced any resistance while contesting in the Cleveland’s opener. She was presented with Wang Yafan’s challenge wherein she sent the Japanese packing without breaking a sweat in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

Stearns vs Sorribes: Head-to-Head

The Round of 16 of the WTA Cleveland will mark the maiden meeting of the duo on the WTA Tour. Despite touring the circuit and competing at the highest level, Stearns and Sorribes have never clashed before. As a result, their head-to-head is locked at 0-0.

Prediction: Stearns to win in straight sets

The 2022 NCAA singles champion, Stearns, boasts a power-punching game that is largely focused on her big-swinging forehand. Her game style houses aggressive groundstrokes that help her focus on maintaining quality shots, but, her service needs improvement. Notably, Stearns’s R1 match-up saw her secure merely 47% of wins on her second serve while delivering 8 double faults.

The former World No. 32, Sara, isn’t a player of many winners. She has built her gameplay around a defensive technique wherein she exercises a topspin forehand while heavily relying on a slice backhand. Much like Stearns, the Spaniard’s service is not one of her strongholds. Her last showdown witnessed her produce just 50% of wins of her first serve while pocketing 71% on the second.

Overall, the current form of Stearns indicates she should topple the Spaniard without much trouble. Sorribes’s best result on the surface came at Abu Dhabi where she won the first round and considering these records, it is safe to say that the American enjoys an upper hand over the latter.