🎾 WTA Rome: Hailey Baptiste vs Anna Blinkova

🎾 WTA Rome: Hailey Baptiste vs Anna Blinkova – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🇷🇺 Anna Blinkova

• Madrid momentum: Bounced back from early clay losses in Charleston and Rouen with three impressive straight-set wins in Madrid qualifying before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in R2.
• Rome reliability: Has never lost a first-round match in Rome (3–0), including a Round of 16 run in 2020. Enters her fourth main draw, having received a walkover in final qualifying.
• Clay-capable: Solid baseline game, good ball-striking, and patience—especially effective on slower red clay when in form.

🇺🇸 Hailey Baptiste

• Rising consistency: The American has gained confidence with deep runs in Auckland (QF), Wuhan, and Miami (3R), continuing to cement herself as a main-draw regular.
• Qualified the hard way: Beat Storm Hunter and Jil Teichmann in Rome qualies—both in straight sets, saving multiple set points in each match and showing mental grit.
• Clay potential: While more known for hard courts, she has proven herself capable on clay, notably defeating Blinkova at Roland-Garros 2020 for her first top-100 win.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This clash brings together two players who have built recent confidence—Blinkova through her Madrid resurgence, and Baptiste through tough qualifying wins in Rome.

Blinkova’s composed baseline game, combined with her previous Rome success and calm court demeanor, give her a steady foundation in this matchup. She’ll look to extend rallies, test Baptiste’s patience, and control the tempo on a surface that rewards rhythm and tactical structure.

Baptiste has the power and athleticism to dictate, but her game remains more variable. If she serves well and redlines off the forehand, she can definitely apply pressure. However, her tiebreak-heavy qualifying route suggests she’s still trying to stabilize her performance under pressure.

Given the slower surface and Blinkova’s higher clay comfort level, the Russian has a slight edge in longer exchanges—but Baptiste will have her chances if she starts fast and takes risks.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Blinkova in 3 sets. Expect momentum swings, but her Madrid rhythm, Rome record, and tactical consistency should help her grind out the win and avenge her 2020 Roland-Garros loss to Baptiste.