Sloane Stephens v Simona Halep: Preview, stats & betting tips for French Open final

We preview the French Open women’s singles final and give you everything you need to know ahead of Sloane Stephen’s intriguing clash with Simona Halep.
Recent Form
There were one or two question marks over Simona Halep’s form coming into the French Open. She had failed to make any real impression in any of her warm-up tournaments in clay court season.
She was twice beaten in the quarter-finals, in Stuttgart and then Madrid, and then absolutely dismantled in the final of the Italian Open by Elina Svitolina.
However, her form at Roland Garros has blown those doubts clear out of the water.
After losing her very first set of the tournament to Alison Riske, only Angelique Kerber has been able to take a set from her, and the Romanian was in especially brutal form against Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals.
Stephens’ French Open run has seemingly come from absolutely nowhere, though. In fact, before Paris she hadn’t even played a quarter-final on clay yet this year.
She did, however, win the Miami Open, so she is clearly in some kind of form and her confidence is sure to be high.
Head to head
Halep has certainly had the best of their head to head over the years, winning five of their seven clashes.
Perhaps even more ominously for Stephens, the Romanian has bested her in both of their matches on clay, both times in straight sets.
They have met once before at Roland Garros, in 2014, when Halep eased to a 6-4 6-3 win.
Stephens hasn’t actually beaten Halep for five years now. What a good time it would be for the American to end that particular hoodoo.
What they’ve said
Sloane Stephens: “She’s won plenty of tournaments. She’s number one in the world for a reason.
“I think that we’ll just have to go out and compete. Somebody’s going to win. Someone has to win. Someone has to lose.
“Just go out, give it your all, and whoever wins, wins.”
Simona Halep: “I will try my best and hopefully I will be better than last year.
“I’m happy that I can have another chance.
“So I lost three times until now and no one died, so it will be okay I think I will be more confident, because I have a lot of experience. But in tennis, you never know, so I will stay chill.
“I know that she’s a strong opponent. I will play my game against her. I expect nothing. I just want to go there and try to keep my tactic and keep my positive things every second.
“It’s always a special moment to qualify in the final of a Grand Slam. It’s a great moment. It’s the best moment in your career, because the Grand Slams are the most important tournaments.
“I feel happy. I feel good. I feel that everything I have done until now, the work that I put after Melbourne and everything together, it worked very well, and that’s why I’m here today.”
Betting
Halep hasn’t always been the best starter in matches in Roland Garros, losing opening sets twice already against Riske and Kerber.
Stephens meanwhile has lost just one set all tournament, so the 6/4 on her to win the opening set in the final with Bet365 is good value.
You can turn that into 11/2 with Bet365 if you back Halep to go on to win the match following an early set back.
Of course, should Stephens take the first set, it will be the first time she has ever won a set against Halep in five years, so 888.com‘s 23/20 on Halep to win 2-0 is also worth a look.
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Classy Petra Kvitova in dominant form as she eases to Qatar Open title
Petra Kvitova stormed to her 28th career title and second at the Qatar Open win with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Garbine Muguruza in Doha.
-
ATP Tour
WATCH: Roger Federer practices in Doha as he learns his fate in the draw
Roger Federer could face a clash against Britain’s Dan Evans in the first match of his comeback event in Doha.
-
ATP Tour
Andrey Rublev’s stunning run of form continues as beats Stefanos Tsitsipas
Andrey Rublev stirmed into his fourth straight ATP 500 final with a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rotterdam.
-
ATP Tour
Roger Federer sends fans crazy with a social media post ahead of his return to action
The moment Roger Federer fans have waited almost a years to see is nearly here as he prepares to return to action next week.
-
WTA Tour
Garbine Muguruza into the final in Qatar after Victoria Azarenka pulls out
Victoria Azarenka withdrew ahead of the Qatar Total Open semi-finals to send Garbine Muguruza.
-
ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas sets up showdown with Andrey Rublev in Rotterdam
Stefanos Tsitsipas is into the semi-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
-
News
Lawn Tennis Association determined to show commitment to inclusion and diversity
Seven people from diverse backgrounds have been appointed to the LTA Council.
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray’s tips on how to make sure you stay injury-free when tennis resumes after lockdown
Andy Murray is back with some tips.
-
Tennis Fun
WATCH: Kei Nishikori reveals he wanted to be a penguin when he was young
Kei Nishikori with some quality content.
-
ATP Tour
‘He will play top-level tennis again because he is that good’ – Andy Murray on Roger Federer’s return
Andy Murray on Roger Federer’s return.