
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 1, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Sloane Stephens of the USA after winning the first set against Cori Gauff of the USA on day three of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Sep 1, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Sloane Stephens of the USA after winning the first set against Cori Gauff of the USA on day three of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
It is the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship and the players are all set to start their campaign on a high. Coming into the tournament, Sloane Stephens is a name that will be looking to bring back the old glory days back. Once a dark horse in the sport, she has been struggling to find momentum and would be looking to get back on track. However, her journey to the top won’t be easy.
Standing her way will be none other than the upcoming sensation Clara Burel. With the stage set for an epic encounter, who among the two will come out on top? Here’s everything that you need to know!
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Sloane Stephens vs Clara Burel: Preview
Sloane Stephens, who used to be really good at tennis, is going through a tough time currently. Even though she did well in one match at the Australian Open, winning against Daria Kasatkina, she’s struggling to keep up that good performance. She didn’t do well in other tournaments like Hobart and Doha, and her record on hard courts hasn’t been great lately.
In the last five years, she only made it to the semifinals on hard courts once. Now, as she gets ready for her third time in the Dubai tournament, she’s hoping to do better than before when she lost in the first round in 2013 and 2014.
WTA Dubai
Stephens S. – Burel C.
Sloane Stephens: Searching for Consistency
Recent Struggles: Sloane Stephens, once a formidable force on the tennis circuit, particularly after her US Open triumph, has faced challenges in replicating her peak form. Her journey at this year's…
— Probahis Tennis (@Probahis) February 17, 2024
On the other hand, her opponent, Clara Burel is doing really well in tennis. She’s been winning a lot, and her record this year is 8 wins and 4 losses, which is impressive. Over the last nine months, she’s climbed up the ranks and is now in the top 50 players. Burel has won a 125k title, reached the final in another tournament, and made it to the semifinals a few times, showing that she’s becoming more skilled and consistent.
In the 2024 season, she did well in Brisbane, the Australian Open, and reached the quarterfinals in Linz. Winning against Jessica Pegula in Melbourne was a big deal for her, showing that she’s ready to compete with the best players in tennis.
Stephens vs Burel: Head-to-head
When it comes to the head-to-head statistics between the two players, not much information is available as they haven’t played each other before this. Thus, this will be their first encounter with each other. With a chance to take a lead, both the players will be willing to give in their everything and make sure that they land the win in their favor.
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Prediction: Sloane Stephens to secure an easy win and progress into the next round
In the upcoming game between Burel and Stephens, Burel has been doing great lately, winning against a top-10 player. But Stephens has a lot of experience and achievements too. This game is a chance for Burel to show she can beat another good player, while Stephens wants to prove she can be a champion again.
Sloane Stephens pic.twitter.com/Y5owTdx14I
— ken mckinnon (@kenmckinnon13) February 9, 2024
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The game won’t just be about how good they are at playing tennis, but also about how they think and plan. Stephens needs to play her best against Burel, who is getting better. If Burel wins, it will show she’s getting really good at tennis. It’s like a battle on the court and in their minds about how to play the game. Who are you rooting for in the match? Do let us know in the comments below!
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