WTA Rabat – Anastasija Sevastova vs Zeynep Sönmez

WTA Rabat – Anastasija Sevastova vs Zeynep Sönmez

🧠 Form & Context

🇱🇻 Anastasija Sevastova
🎾 Comeback trail: Former world No. 11 working her way back from injury.
🔙 Clay pedigree: 248–105 lifetime on clay, 4–3 in 2025.
✅ R1 win: Outlasted Kabbaj in 3 sets after quality spring wins over Ostapenko and Pavlyuchenkova.
🧠 Experience: US Open semifinalist with over 500 career match wins.

🇹🇷 Zeynep Sönmez
🚀 Breakthrough season: 13–11 overall in 2025, recently entered the top 100.
📈 Clay momentum: Wins over Bronzetti, Bencic, and Teichmann this spring.
💪 Form stable: Has won a match in every clay event since April.
🧱 Rabat debut: Looking to reach her second WTA QF of the season.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Sevastova’s slice-heavy, rhythm-breaking game is designed to frustrate hitters like Sönmez. She’ll aim to vary spin, pace, and angles to pull the young Turk out of position. Sönmez has more power and better legs at this stage. If she resists the urge to overhit and adjusts to Sevastova’s tempo shifts, she can take control as rallies extend. Stats suggest she improves as matches wear on (50% 3rd set win rate), while Sevastova fades (0% win rate in 3rd sets on clay in 2025).

🔮 Prediction

This is a classic battle of guile vs grit. Sevastova has the tools to start fast, but if Sönmez weathers the early tactics, her youth and form should prevail. 🧩 Prediction: Zeynep Sönmez in 3 sets — the Turk’s stamina and rising confidence can outlast the veteran’s touch game in Rabat's heavy conditions.