TennisSection previews the 2021 French Open as Sofia Kenin (4) meets Hailey Baptiste (Q) in the Round of 64 on Thursday, June 3rd 2021.
Will the qualifier, Hailey Baptiste, be able to shock us all and make her way to her first Grand Slam Round of 32 by beating a Grand Slam champion? Will Sofia Kenin build on that strong performance in her opening match which was very tight in the end? This is a battle of the Americans, but who will come out on top, youth or experience?
Hailey Baptiste is not really known on the WTA Tour as she is mainly a doubles player who is aiming to get her career going in the singles. Ranked 203 in the world, Hailey Baptiste was able to beat Anastasia Blinkova in the Round of 128 at Roland Garros 2021 in straight sets 6-1/6-4. Hailey was not expected to win that match against Blinkova, but she showed great composure in the latter end of the match when things were tight, ensuring she closed it in straight sets rather than having to fight in a 3rd set. Now, Hailey will have to play against a stronger player than her, and a fellow American, Sofia Kenin, who will be very determined to beat the qualifier. Can Baptiste shock us all here?
Sofia Kenin was very composed during her Round of 128 match at the 2021 French Open, beating the 2017 Roland Garros champion in 3 tight sets 6-4/4-6/6-3. Both players were giving it their all throughout the match, and they were so energetic on the court after every point won. However, Sofia Kenin just had better stamina in the later stages of the match which allowed her to have more speed in her movement and more power behind her shots. Sofia Kenin, if not injured and if confident, is a tough player to beat, and I am sure she will want to cruise through this Round of 64 match against Hailey Baptiste to continue building her momentum in Paris.
Sofia Kenin and Hailey Baptiste have never met before, with this being their first encounter. Unfortunately for the younger American, she will not have any chance here against the still quite young, but much more experienced and accomplished, Sofia Kenin. Sofia Kenin is determined to get her season going as we expected it to, and she will come out here ready to build on her strong performance in the Round of 128 against Jelena Ostapenko. Hailey Baptiste is a qualifier here at Roland Garros 2021, and she has played well, but her time has come as she will lose this match in straight sets. Sofia Kenin will make her way to the Round of 32 at the 2021 French Open easily.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Sofia Kenin in 2 Sets.
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