Halep vs. Stephens betting – 2018 French Open women’s final

Saturday, June 9 – 3pm local time – Court Philippe-Chatrier, Paris

IS it a case of third time lucky for Simona Halep at the French Open?

The Romanian has reached the final at Roland Garros twice before, losing to Maria Sharapova in 2014 and then to Latvian rookie Jelena Ostapenko in 2017.

It is the nature of last year’s defeat that has observers questioning whether she can hold her nerve when it counts.

Halep was a set and 3-0 to the good in that clash, but an unravelling of the most spectacular sort gave Ostapenko the glory in her first-ever tour final.

If that’s what happens against an unseeded teenager, what can we expect when the top seed tackles a player with much better credentials?

Sloane Stephens is a major winner who, after years of injury trouble, is now playing the best tennis of her career.

The US Open champion breezed through the last 16, taking down Daria Kasatkina, Anett Kontaveit and Madison Keys in straight sets.

A strong service game, impressive closing speed and weapons on both flanks make the American difficult to beat when she’s fit and firing.

Simona Halep odds, form & stats

-232.56 at Bovada

Personal info

Born: 27/9/1991 in Constanta, Romania
Style: Right-handed (two-hand backhand)
WTA titles: 16
Grand slams: 0
Best FO finish: Runner-up (2014, 2017)

2018 French Open results

Semifinals – 6-1, 6-3 vs. Garbine Muguruza (3)
Quarterfinals – 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2 vs. Angelique Kerber (12)
Fourth round – 6-2, 6-1 vs. Elise Mertens (16)
Third round – 7-5, 6-0 vs. Andrea Petkovic
Second round – 6-3, 6-1 vs. Taylor Townsend
First round – 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 vs. Alison Riske

Sloane Stephens odds, form & stats

+186 at Bovada

Personal info

Born: 20/3/1993 in Plantation, Florida
Style: Right-handed (two-hand backhand)
WTA titles: 6
Grand slams: 1 (US Open 2017)
Best FO finish: Fourth round (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

2018 French Open results

Semifinals – 6-4, 6-4 vs. Madison Keys (13)
Quarterfinals – 6-3, 6-1 vs. Daria Kastkina (14)
Fourth round – 6-2, 6-0 vs. Anett Kontaveit (25)
Third round – 4-6, 6-1, 8-6 vs. Camila Giorgi
Second round – 6-2, 6-2 vs. Magdalena Frech
First round – 6-2, 6-0 vs. Arantxa Rus

Betting predictions

Stephens has enjoyed a golden run to the final. Despite being seeded nine places lower than Halep, she has not yet had to face another player from the top 10. Madison Keys (13), whom Stephens defeated in the US Open final last year, was her highest-ranked opponent until now.

Halep, meanwhile, has had to beat a former world number one (Kerber) and the reigning Wimbledon champ (Muguruza) to get here. She has endured a few wobbles along the way, including a horrendous opening set in the first round of the tournament, but her all-court quality has shone through each and every time.

When it comes to Stephens, the favourite also has history on her side. Halep has won five of seven meetings with the Floridian, including two dominant victories last year and a pair of straight-sets results on clay.

The predictably unpredictable nature of women’s tennis will tempt many a punter into taking the odds on Stephens. As she showed at the US Open last year, she can beat anybody when she has a bit of form and fitness behind her. But Halep looks strong and focused, and she can’t keep losing these title fights forever, so that’s where our money is.

Simona Halep to win in straight sets – +100 at Bovada