Tennis in the Land continues this week as Sofia Kenin faces Clara Burel while Peyton Stearns goes up against Sorribes Tormo in the round of 16. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 ATP Tour – WTA 500
Tennis in the Land
Jacobs Pavilion
Selected Ro 16 matches – 22 August
Sofia Kenin 92/100 | Clara Burel 17/20
Phew, that was a narrow escape. Former Aussie Open champion Sofia Kenin trailed Katie Volynets 5-3 in the final set of her first-round match, actually saving a match-point serving at 5-4 down.
But she managed to somehow claw her way out of that hole to pick up a much-needed victory. This has been an absolutely dreadful campaign for the 2020 Aussie Open champion.
She seemed to have overcome the worst of her injury issues last season, breaking back into the top 30 after a WTA 500 runner-up finish in California and a semifinal run in Guadalajara.
But she came into this event with an abysmal 5-14 record in tour-level matches. That featured a nine-match losing streak. Yikes. Her best result of the season came at Roland Garros, as she managed to hustle her way to a 3rd round finish (losing to Clara Tauson in the round of 32).
Her nerve-jangling win over Katie Volynets broke another five-match losing streak and she will be desperate for back-to-back wins. This is a woman who was ranked as high as 4th in the world and she needs to rediscover her confidence from the baseline.
Clara Burel hasn’t fared much better this year. The 23-year-old Frenchwoman is a two-time Lausanne runner-up who briefly broke into the top 50 in the world at the start of the season. She reached the 3rd round of the Aussie Open, picking up her maiden top-ten victory with a straight-sets win over Jessica Pegula.
She hasn’t completely devolved ala Sofia Kenin since then, picking up quarterfinal finishes in Linz and Strasbourg. But her most recent form has been pretty dire (she came into this event with a 1-6 record in last seven matches).
She was fortunate enough to draw lucky loser Elvina Kalieva in her opener, comfortably seeing off the American 6-3, 6-2. She served well against Kalieva, winning 73% of her first-serve points (serving seven aces in the process).
It was exactly the sort of no-nonsense victory that she needed to alleviate some of those creeping doubts. Burel is a strong mover and has the ability to trade blows with the best.
The Verdict: Burel to win in three 36/10
This will be their first career meeting. Kenin needs to tighten up that serve. She was broken seven times against Volynets (which was heavily abetted by eight double faults).
This could prove to be an edgy match between two players lacking in confidence. At her best, Kenin was a supreme counterpuncher who had the ability to turn defence into attack on a dime. I actually think she may struggle against Burel.
The Frenchwoman served well in her opener and has the movement to bother the American.
Kenin served poorly in her opener and Burel will look to lean into any weak 2nd serves. I can see a three-set match here, with multiple breaks of serve along the way.
Peyton Stearns 49/100 | Sara Sorribes Tormo 16/10
This match should provide an interesting contrast in styles. Peyton Stearns is very much cut from the cloth of your stereotypical American hardcourt player.
The former NCAA champion loves to go for her shots, using her serve to set up a megawatt forehand. Her brand of first-strike tennis does lend itself to inconsistency but I’m convinced that she will develop into a really top player.
She won her maiden WTA title in Rabat earlier this season. And she recently showed off her potential on these North American hardcourts, reaching a maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Toronto.
She came unstuck in Cincinnati against an ebullient Paula Badosa but she got back to winning ways in her opening match this week, beating Moyuka Uchijima in a schizophrenic three-set match. She bageled the Japanese in the first set and then dropped the 2nd set 6-1!
She then reversed the rollercoaster to win the decisive set 6-1. It was a typically mercurial performance from Stearns and she will need to iron out those serving demons going forward: she served eight double-faults against the Japanese player.
Defending Cleveland champ Sara Sorribes Tormo looked more convincing in her opener, taking down Wang Yafan to extend her unbeaten record in this event.
The 27-year-old Spaniard is almost the polar opposite of Stearns. She is very much a defensive baseliner, using a spinny forehand and employing plenty of slice on that backhand wing. I find it strange that both her titles have actually come on hardcourts – she just fits the identikit profile of a clay-court specialist.
She has struggled this season, accumulating a miserable 11-20 singles record. She has fared much better on the doubles circuit, winning the Miami Open and Olympic Bronze playing alongside Cristina Busca. Can she harness her memories from last season and reinvigorate her flagging 2024 singles campaign?
The Verdict: Stearns to win in straight sets 21/20
This will be their first career meeting. I think Stearns will have learnt her lesson against Uchijima and should put in a more convincing serving display.
Her dynamic forehand should be enough to overwhelm the pugnacious Spaniard (despite her brilliant Cleveland form).
