Indian Wells: Stephens vs Kenin Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 WTA Indian Wells tournament as Sloane Stephens takes on Sofia Kenin in the first round on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

It is a meeting between two former Grand Slam champions as Americans Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin face off in a mouthwatering opening match at the 2023 Indian Wells tournament. Who will prevail?

Sloane Stephens vs. Sofia Kenin Match Preview

Sloane Stephens is playing nothing like the 2017 version of herself that sensationally streaked to win the US Open title. In fact, Stephens has massively underperformed to the extent that we might never see her reach her full potential. Over five years ago when she won in New York, many tennis fans lauded just how big an achievement it was considering that she had been injured for quite some time and that Stephens was destined to achieve even such milestones in plenty in the next few years. But it hasn’t quite materialized that way. She arrives at the 2023 Indian Wells tournament clinging onto her top-50 ranking ahead of her meeting against Sofia Kenin.

Sofia Kenin, meanwhile, is treading the same path. A Grand Slam winner in the 2020 Australian Open, Kenin’s big fall from grace has been very disappointing, largely due to injuries. Time is still very much on her side, but with many of her contemporaries catching up very fast and the emergence of a new crop of talents, Kenin could have a lot of ground to make up in the coming years. Her form since leaving Australia this year is uninspiring and is unlikely to give Sloane Stephens a sleepless night ahead of their meeting in Indian Wells.

Sloane Stephens vs. Sofia Kenin Prediction and Pick

Sloane Stephens leads Sofia Kenin 1-0 in their head-to-head. They met in the first round in Toronto last season and Stephens came through a lung buster in three sets. The conditions in Indian Wells should suit Stephens who will look to cover every inch of the court to retrieve Kenin’s missiles. As long as Stephens keeps her composure which we have only seen sporadically this year, she will frustrate Kenin into making the errors.