🎾 WTA Rome: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Katie Boulter

🎾 WTA Rome: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Katie Boulter – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇬🇧 Katie Boulter

• Interrupted season: Missed almost two months after the Australian Open due to injury and has only played four events since returning.
• Limited momentum: Just three wins in that post-injury stretch, entering Rome with minimal match rhythm.
• Struggles on clay: Not her preferred surface—clay exposes weaknesses in her movement and point construction. Exited in the first round last year in her Rome debut.
• Trying to spark form: Had a brief positive showing in Madrid with a win before losing to Paolini in R2.

🇷🇺 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

• Quiet 2025: Started the year strong with a QF at the Australian Open but has since gone winless, including a retirement in Abu Dhabi and a recent loss to unranked Sevastova in Madrid.
• Rome inconsistency: Despite 13 appearances, she hasn’t reached R3 at the Foro Italico since 2017.
• Clay pedigree fading: Former French Open finalist, but has gone just 3–6 on clay since the start of 2024.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a matchup of two players searching for answers, both struggling for rhythm on a surface that doesn’t suit either’s strengths particularly well.

Boulter has the bigger serve and more straightforward power game but lacks the clay footwork and rally endurance to consistently dictate. If her first serve clicks, she can make life difficult for Pavlyuchenkova—but over longer exchanges, she tends to fade.

Pavlyuchenkova, while lacking recent results, still possesses better natural feel on clay and more variation. If she can avoid unforced errors early and find some rhythm behind her serve, she should be able to control more of the match’s pace.

Ultimately, this may come down to who manages nerves and execution better in key moments. Both are short on form and match wins, so expect plenty of breaks and momentum swings.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets. Experience and clay familiarity may just edge out Boulter’s power—though it could be a messy, grind-heavy affair from both sides.