French Open final: Halep vs. Stephens predictions, start time and betting odds

French Open women’s final Simona Halep vs. Sloane Stephens tennis

Simona Halep of Romania, left, leads 5-2 in matches against American Sloane Stephens

(Image credit: Cameron Spencer/Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

published 8 June 2018

Simona Halep insists she will “chill” before Saturday’s French Open final against Sloane Stephens despite having previously been denied three chances of Grand Slam glory.

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George Bellshaw, Metro: “Halep arguably adapts best to players with big, heavy strokes. She has won her last four meetings with the American and emerged victorious [in] their two ties on clay. The Romanian has become more aggressive with age to add to the relentless defending that so often forces opponents into submission. She seems genuinely relaxed about her destiny, with the demons of the past exorcised. After such a long wait, it feels like her time. Prediction: Halep in two sets.”

Linda Ellis, Last Word on Tennis: “I am going with Sloane Stephens. Although Halep leads the head-to-head match-up, this is the final of a major. Stephens has shown her mental toughness in defeating close friend Madison Keys to win the US Open title in 2017. Stephens has now followed that up by once again defeating Keys to reach the final in Paris. Halep does not possess the power of Keys, and Stephens has shown she is one of the best movers in the game. Prediction: Stephens in three sets.”