Anna Bondár vs Elina Svitolina

WTA Wimbledon – 1st Round
Anna Bondár vs Elina Svitolina

🧠 Form & Context

• Elina Svitolina
  🌱 Wimbledon specialist: Semifinalist in 2019 & 2023, quarterfinalist in 2024, with 15 wins at SW19 since 2019.
  🔥 Red-hot clay swing: 18–3 record with a title in Rouen, a SF in Madrid, and a QF at Roland-Garros.
  ⚖️ Competitive grass lead-in: Pushed Haddad Maia to three sets in Bad Homburg, holding a lead in set two.
  🔋 Reliable: Fitness, focus, and experience make her one of the most dangerous unseeded floaters in the draw.


• Anna Bondár
  🥀 Grass discomfort: Just earned her first-ever grass-court win at age 28—against an unranked wildcard in Eastbourne qualies.
  📉 Wimbledon record: 0–2 in main draws without winning a set; just 1 WTA main-draw win on grass.
  🏆 Clay-centric game: Recent good form in clay events (Wiesbaden title, Bari final), but struggles to adjust to faster surfaces.
  🛑 Slam woes: 2–11 career record in Grand Slam main draws—yet to win outside of Roland-Garros.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This matchup is one of the most lopsided in the WTA first round—both stylistically and historically.

Svitolina has proven time and again that her game transitions well to grass. Her anticipation, deep returns, and ability to redirect with depth allow her to control rallies even on slicker courts. She's battle-tested at Wimbledon and confident in long rallies and momentum shifts.

Bondár, on the other hand, thrives on slow, high-bounce clay where she can set up her shots. On grass, her heavy topspin forehand loses bite, and her movement becomes a liability. Even when she pushed Svitolina at Roland-Garros this year, it was on her favored surface—and still not enough.

On grass, Svitolina’s edge only grows. Expect the Ukrainian to pressure Bondár’s forehand early, take time away on returns, and coast if she maintains focus.

🔮 Prediction

Svitolina is simply operating on a higher level, both tactically and physically. Bondár may hang for a few games, but over a full match, the gulf in ability and grass-readiness is clear.

Prediction: Svitolina in 2 sets — under 18 total games likely. Controlled, clinical, and efficient.