WTA Rouen: Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

The tennis community is buzzing as the big stage is set up for a blockbuster finale at the Open de Rouen. On the indoor clay court of France, the sixth-seeded American Sloane Stephens will lock horns with the Polish tennis star, Magda Linette, in the championship game.

This season, the third edition of the Open de Rouen was upgraded to a WTA 250-category event and featured some of the big guns competing at the Kindarena Sports Complex. As the likes of Stephens and Linette are now one win away from a triumphant run in Rouen, it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in this title match.

Sloane Stephens vs Magda Linette: Open de Rouen finals preview

The American tennis star is coming to the WTA 250 tournament in Rouen after her round-of-16 defeat at the Charleston Open.  Entering the Open de Rouen as the sixth participant, Sloane Stephens brushed aside the likes of Yue Yuan, Karolína Plíšková, and Peyton Stearns to secure a place in the semis. The former Grand Slam champion then recently pulled off an upset against the second-seeded French Caroline Garcia, as she clinched a semifinal victory with a score of 6-3, 6-2. During her straight-set win, Stephens only hit one double fault against Garcia, while she had a 70% first-serve win percentage and a 50% on her second serve.

Magda Linette, on the other hand, entered the clay court tournament as an unseeded participant, and she defeated the likes of lsa Jacquemot and Natalija Kostić in the initial rounds. The Polish tennis player then overcame Arantxa Rus in the quarterfinals before her brilliant semifinal victory against the second seed, Anhelina Kalinina. Linette hit seven aces and one double fault against Kalinina while winning 67% of points on her first serve and 70% on her second serve.

Stephens vs Linette: Head-to-Head

The Open de Rouen’s semis will be the fourth time that Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette will be meeting each other on the women’s tour. In all their previous encounters, including their most recent meeting at the China Open, the American player defeated her Polish colleague in straight sets, and she currently has a 3-0 lead in their H2H record.

Prediction: Stephens to emerge victorious in this championship game in Rouen

The American player, who now has a brilliant record of 136/75 on the clay court surfaces, defeated two top-seeded participants during her campaign in Rouen. The former number 3 player has won seven WTA Tour singles titles, while she is the sixth seed in this tournament. Given her vast experience and her past encounters against the Pole, Stephens will be the favourite to win this WTA 250 clay championship.

Who do you think will prevail in this Open de Rouen title match between Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette? Let us know in the comments section.