WTA Eastbourne – Quarterfinal Preview
Anna Blinkova vs Maya Joint
Date: 26 June 2025 | Time: 14:00 CEST
Surface: Grass | Location: Eastbourne
🧠 Form & Context
Anna Blinkova
🔥 6–2 run since Nottingham: Straight-sets win over Sun followed gritty three-setter vs Bouzkova.
🌱 Comfort on lawns: 4–2 this swing, leveraging flat backhand and sneaky serve placement.
📈 Season turning: 21–16 overall after slow 2–6 March; looking for first tour SF since 2022 Cluj.
Maya Joint
🚀 Teen surge: 19-year-old Aussie already a WTA champion (Rabat) and Top-60 breakthrough.
🌾 Grass acclimation: Upset Jabeur and out-lasted Raducanu, showing poise in tight third-set TB.
⭐ Variety weapon: Heavy topspin forehand pairs with deft drop-shots—effective on low-bounce turf.
🔍 Match Breakdown
Blinkova will aim to rush Joint by hitting early and down the line off both wings, especially into the Aussie’s still-developing backhand. She’ll look for first-ball strikes behind a 65% first-serve clip this week.
Joint thrives in cat-and-mouse exchanges, mixing high loopy forehands with sudden net forays. If she drags rallies past six shots, Blinkova’s error count can spike. Key stat: Joint’s 2nd-serve points won (just 45% vs Raducanu) must improve, or Blinkova’s aggressive returns will punish.
🔮 Prediction
Prediction: Blinkova in 3 sets – expect momentum swings and at least one tiebreak. Joint’s craftiness keeps her in the hunt, but Blinkova’s flatter hitting and big-match seasoning on grass should tip the scales.
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