The Miami Open is in full swing, and the tournament has already delivered exciting matches. In the round of 64, two WTA veterans, Stephens vs Cirstea, are set to face each other. Both players are looking to improve their season’s momentum and advance further in the championship. Let’s take a closer look at their recent performances and head-to-head record to predict who has a better chance of winning this encounter.
Sloane Stephens‘ Recent Form:
Stephens started her 2024 season at the Brisbane International, where she lost to Elise Mertens in the second round. She then suffered an opening-round loss at the Hobart International. At the Australian Open, she won her first two rounds before falling to Anna Kalinskaya in a three-set battle. In Qatar, she lost to Cirstea in the first round, followed by a second-round exit in Dubai. Stephens managed first-round victories in the Austin Open and Indian Wells Masters, but lost in the second round of both tournaments. In Miami, she defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets to set up the match against Cirstea.
Sorana Cirstea’s Recent Form:
Cirstea’s 2024 season began with first-round losses at the Brisbane International, Adelaide International, and the Australian Open. However, she showed improvement by reaching the quarterfinal in Abu Dhabi, where she was eliminated by Iga Swiatek. Cirstea’s best performance came at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she reached the semifinal before losing to Jasmine Paolini in two sets. She then suffered a first-round exit against Stephens at the Indian Wells Masters.
Head-to-Head Record
Stephens vs Cirstea have faced each other four times in their careers, with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2. Their first meeting was in 2013 in Dubai, where Cirstea won in three sets. They met again at the 2022 French Open, with Stephens winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. In 2024, Cirstea won their Qatar Open match in straight sets, while Stephens avenged the loss at the Indian Wells Masters, winning 6-0, 7-5.
Prediction
Although Stephens has had a slow start to the season, she seems to have a slight edge over Cirstea in their upcoming match. Cirstea’s deep run at the Dubai Tennis Championships was impressive, but her form has dipped since then. While the match is unlikely to be a straightforward victory for Stephens, her recent win against Cirstea at Indian Wells and her overall experience may give her the advantage needed to progress further in the Miami Open.
