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Line Calls, presented by FanDuel Sportsbook: Sofia Kenin vs. Sloane Stephens, Indian Wells

Both of these former Grand Slam champions are struggling, but one of them will have get back in the win column.

Published Mar 09, 2023

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On Thursday at Indian Wells, tennis fans will see an All-American battle between two former Grand Slam champions, Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin. The problem is that you’d never guess that either player won a major title if you've watched them play recently.

Stephens comes into this match after having gone 4-6 in her last 10 matches, and the 29-year-old’s winning percentage has been below 60.0% in each of the last five seasons. Meanwhile, Kenin has lost five of her last six matches, and her winning percentage has been below 60.0% in each of the past three years. These players are nothing like the stars they used to be—but the good news is that someone must win. And all things considered, it’s hard to see that victor not being Stephens.

While the 2023 season has already been an up-and-down ride for Stephens, the 29-year-old did win two matches in Austin last week. She has now won at least two matches in back-to-back tournaments, and that means she should have a little more confidence than her opponent.

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Stephens earned a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 win when she faced Kenin in Toronto last season.

It also doesn’t help that the conditions at Indian Wells could make for tougher sledding for Kenin. One of the 24-year-old’s biggest advantages on a match-to-match basis is her overwhelming power. But Stephens is an incredible mover, and she'll have more time to get herself set because of the slow courts they’ll be playing on this week. That extra split second should help Stephens clean up a lot of the mistakes she has been making over the past couple of years.

The big question is whether Stephens can serve well enough to make Kenin uncomfortable. Stephens has been inconsistent with the ball on her racquet in recent seasons, but something tells us she’ll be ready to go when the lights are on for this massive matchup. For what it’s worth, Stephens earned a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 win when she faced Kenin in Toronto last season. Stephens had a 71.0% first serve percentage in that match, so she did rise to the occasion when she needed too. And overall, the fact she won on a faster court bodes well heading into this match, as she should be a little more comfortable than Kenin in the desert.

Line Call: Stephens To Win (-110)

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