The blockbuster Birmingham Classic continues this week as Sloane Stephens faces Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Ajla Tomljanovic goes up against Zhu Lin. Damien Kayat previews the action.
2024 WTA Tour – WTA 250
Birmingham Classic
Edgbaston Priory Club
Selected Round of 16 matches – 19 June
Sloane Stephens 83/100 | Elisabetta Cocciaretto 19/20
This has been another typically schizophrenic season for former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. The American has largely underwhelmed this year (further enhancing her reputation as a perennial underachiever).
But she then came out of nowhere to win her 8th career title at the inaugural Open de Rouen. Her form has fallen off a cliff since then and she is coming into a portion of the season that doesn’t really agree with her.
As noted many times before, Stephens is an ultra-defensive baseliner who doesn’t really look to take the initiative. That lack of killer instinct hasn’t served her well on grass (she has yet to reach a grass-court final in her career).
She hasn’t got past the third round at Wimbledon since a quarter-final run back in 2013. But she looked quite impressive in her opener, seeing off pugnacious Chinese player Yuan in straight sets. Stephens’ movement has always looked a bit laboured on grass and she could do with a nice pick-me-up this week.
Italian tennis has really received a shot in the arm via the dual exploits of Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini. Can the aggressive Elisabetta Cocciaretto draw some inspiration from her fellow countrymen?
To be fair, Cocciaretto has been showing steady signs of improvement of late. She claimed her maiden title in Lausanne in the latter portion of last season.
The 23-year-old was enjoying a fairly non-descript 2024 before claiming a third WTA 125 title in Charleston. She just produced a career-best Grand Slam run, beating the likes of Haddad Maia and Samsonova en route to the fourth round of the French Open.
And she has transferred that clay-court form onto the grass, shocking top seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets in her Birmingham opener. She matched the mercurial Latvian from the back of the court, hitting five aces and winning a stunning 78% of her first-serve points.
Cocciaretto reached the 3rd round at Wimbledon last season and her solid serve and aggressive style actually make her a decent fit for grass.
The Verdict: Cocciaretto to win in straight sets 2/1
Stephens won their only previous meeting, easing past the Italian in straight sets in last year’s Cincinnati Open. But I honestly think that the Italian is a better fit for these surfaces. She is far more aggressive and could catch Stephens flat-footed.
Ajla Tomljanovic 66/100 | Zhu Lin 23/20
31-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic is gearing up for Wimbledon after a few injury-ravaged seasons. The Aussie has been wrestling with a knee issue since last season and it has severely affected her 2024 campaign.
But Tomljanovic is a real fighter who has already showcased her ability on grass in the past. The Aussie reached back-to-back Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2021 and 2022.
She also beat Serena Williams in her last professional match en route to the US Open quarter-finals (also in 2022). She has big-match temperament but inconsistency and injury have dogged her throughout her career.
She was utterly merciless in her Birmingham opener, wiping the floor with Blinkova 6-2, 6-1. Tomljanovic has a magnificent backhand and also possesses wonderful touch around the net. She actually has the game to really upset some of the top Wimbledon contenders this year.
Journeywoman Zhu Lin struggled for many years to make an impact on the tour, largely plying her trade at ITF level. But hard work paid off and she enjoyed a really solid 2023 campaign, reaching the fourth round round of a Grand Slam for the first time and winning a maiden WTA Tour title in Thailand.
The hardcourt specialist started this season reasonably well, reaching a second consecutive final at the Hua Hin Championships. But she has really struggled tremendously since then, coming into this tournament on a seven-match losing streak.
I frankly couldn’t believe how easily she dealt with Sorana Cirstea in her first-round match. She was solid from the back of the court, crushing that signature forehand. She has never seemed overly comfortable on grass but perhaps that upset win will give her a much-needed confidence boost.
The Verdict: Tomljanovic to win in straight sets 14/10
The Aussie has won both their previous meetings in straight sets (on Lin’s preferred hardcourts). I don’t see any reason why Tomljanovic shouldn’t make it three in a row here. She is simply a much better grass-court player, willing to come to the net to shorten points.
