Sloane Stephens face Yulia Putintseva while Emma Navarro takes on Paula Badosa in the round of 64 at the WTA Tour’s Italian Open. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 WTA Tour – WTA 1000
Italian Open
Foro Italico
Selected Ro64 Matches – 9 May 2024
Sloane Stephens 72/100 | Yulia Putintseva 21/20
This promises to be a thrilling clash between two resurgent players. American Sloane Stephens has never truly reached the heights that many anticipated after a stunning start to her career. She won the 2017 US Open and went on to finish runner-up at the 2018 French Open.
She looked set for an extended stay in the upper echelons of the game. But the American just hasn’t been able to maintain that sort of level. Many have blamed her for lacking the motivation to push herself further- and there may be some truth to that.
I think it’s simpler than that. Her focus on defensive baseline play is just not a recipe for long-term success in the modern game. She lacks a massive weapon that can help her steamroll opponents. That being said, Stephens has come back to life during this year’s clay-court campaign.
In fact, she has gone 9-2 on the sticky stuff this season, winning her first title in two years in Rouen. She was looking threatening in Madrid before running into Maria Sakkari. But those Madrid surfaces are quite quick and Stephens will much prefer these more laborious conditions. She will use her athleticism to run down lost causes and put the squeeze on Yulia Putintseva.
This has been quite the comeback season for 29-year-old Kazakh Putintseva. The two-time WTA Tour champion had faded in relevance over the years and seemed to have lost the pugnacious fighting spirit that defined her in the early days. But she had a coaching shakeup towards the end of last season, hiring former ATP player Matteo Donati.
He seems to have reignited her fire and she has looked almost combustible out there. And it’s not as if her resurgence has happened in minor satellite events. Her opening-round victory over Trevisan took her to 12-3 in her last four WTA 1000 appearances. She reached the final 16 at Indian Wells and registered back-to-back quarter-finals in Miami and Madrid.
She has aways been a tenacious fighter and that seems to be back. But she also has a clinical edge in recent events, serving well in high-pressure situations and dictating points with her vicious forehand. She reached the quarter-finals here back in 2020 and she will be feeling extremely confident this week. A two-time French Open quarter-finalist, Putintseva simply loves these conditions.
Verdict: Putintseva to win in straight sets 23/10
There is literally nothing to separate these two in the head-to-head stakes. They share the spoils 3-3, with Stephens emerging victorious in their most recent encounter at last year’s French Open.
I really think that Putintseva has the bull by the horns at present. Stephens tends to rest on her laurels after a success and I can see the Kazakh baseliner dominating from the back of the court.
Emma Navarro 8/10 | Paula Badosa 98/100
This has been quite the breakout year for 22-year-old Emma Navarro. The American- a former NCAA champion- currently owns an impressive 25-9 record this year. She won her maiden title in Hobart and has reached the quarter-final stage or better in another three events.
She picked up the biggest win of her career at Indian Wells, taking down World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka en route to an excellent quarter-final finish. She has a very compact style, using her excellent movement and consistent groundstrokes to wear down opponents.
I like to think of her as a slightly younger Jessica Pegula (they even have the billionaire father in common). She is still finding her feet on clay and will next take on sentimental favourite Paula Badosa.
I know it sounds painfully silly, but I was a little bit sad to hear about the Badosa-Tsitsipas split. They just seemed to bring a real sense of joy to what can sometimes feel like a terribly self-serious sport.
Be that as it may, Badosa looked back to her best in her opening-round victory over Mirra Andreeva, trouncing the exciting Russian 6-2, 6-3. Ranked as high as 2 before missing the second half of last season due to a back injury, Badosa has really struggled to get her body back to optimum working condition.
But this was a significant win (her first since beating Halep at last month’s Miami Open). It actually broke an ugly six-match losing streak against top 40 ranked players. Badosa is a former French Open quarter-finalist who reached the quarters here last season.
She said she felt significant pain during the match against Andreeva and it will be interesting to see how much her body can withstand this fortnight.
Verdict: Badosa to win in three 38/10
This will be their first career meeting. Badosa looks like she means business in Rome. She was truly brilliant against Andreeva and I think she will prevail here- if her body permits.
She has more depth and range in her groundstrokes. Navarro is very tidy and will pounce on any weaknesses. I expect Badosa to wobble at some stage but to still get the job done.
