Saint-Malo 2023: Sloane Stephens vs. Greet Minnen Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 WTA 125K Saint-Malo final match featuring Sloane Stephens vs. Greet Minnen on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Sloane Stephens vs. Greet Minnen Preview

Top seed Sloane Stephens will look to clinch her first title of the season at the WTA 125K event in Saint-Malo. Stephens will face Greet Minnnen, a surprise finalist, in Sunday’s final. Who will prevail?

Sloane Stephens won the marquee battle between two former world No. 3’s, besting Elina Svitolina in a highly engaging and entertaining semifinal at the WTA 125K Saint-Malo. Stephens could not afford to get her eye off the ball, in a match with huge momentum shifts, but ultimately showed resilience, coming back from 2-5 down in the first set and then saving four set points in the second to close out a 7-5, 7-6 win.

Greet Minnen is no stranger to making finals in 2023, but the WTA 125K final in Saint-Malo is the biggest that the Belgian will play in her career so far. Minnen, a two-time champion on the ITF circuit this year, recently made the semifinal at the W100 Oeiras ITF at the end of April. But she’s conquered that hurdle this week, beating American Katie Volynets in straight sets to punch her ticket into Sunday’s final.

Sloane Stephens vs. Greet Minnen Prediction and Pick

Sloane Stephens leads Greet Minnen 1-0 in their head-to-head, winning that encounter at last year’s US Open in three sets. Minnen has enjoyed a much better season than Stephens albeit on the lower rungs of the WTA circuit, making three finals at ITF level and capturing two tournaments. She has muscled her way into the final in Saint-Malo with her powerfully built forehand. It was a shot that had Stephens on the ropes for a set and a half at Flushing Meadows last season. Minnen’s current ranking is not a fair reflection of his results in 2023 and should be closer to the top 100. She’ll push Stephens again, but I can’t see the American wilting. Back Stephens to end her title drought.