WTA Berlin QF: Amanda Anisimova vs Liudmila Samsonova

WTA Berlin QF: Amanda Anisimova vs Liudmila Samsonova – Momentum vs Mileage

🧠 Form & Context

Amanda Anisimova 🇺🇸
🌿 Grass surge: Reached the Queen’s final last week; 8 wins in her last 9 grass matches.
⚔️ Clutch under pressure: Came from 0–3 down in the third vs Frech to storm into the QF.
🏆 Season breakout: Doha champion, Top 15 debut, career-best grass campaign (6–1 in 2025).
📉 Stamina concerns: Struggles to sustain peak level through full weeks—Queen’s final & Paris QF both ended in fatigue-related setbacks.

Liudmila Samsonova 🇷🇺
🛡️ Survival mode: Spent 6+ hours on court this week; saved match points vs Pegula in a third-set tiebreak.
🔥 Berlin magic: Won this event in 2021 and owns a 7–2 record on these lawns.
⏳ Fatigue factor: Consecutive marathons may weigh heavily here—particularly on serve consistency.
📉 Inconsistent year: Entered with a 1–3 grass record and suffered a loss to World No. 231 just last week.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Tactical edge: Anisimova’s best weapon—the return—matches up well with Samsonova’s flatter serve, especially if Liudmila’s legs are gone.

Shot pattern: Expect Amanda to go after the forehand wing early, breaking rhythm and keeping points short. Samsonova thrives in long exchanges, but may lack the legs to build them consistently.

Psychological swing: Anisimova is brimming with confidence from Queen’s and has had more recovery time. Samsonova’s Berlin experience helps, but emotional and physical toll could be decisive.

🔮 Prediction

Both women are playing inspired tennis, but the fresher legs and sharper return belong to Anisimova. If she serves above 60 % and shortens points, she’ll outlast the Russian. Pick: Amanda Anisimova in 3 sets – expect momentum shifts, but the American’s cleaner baseline execution and lower physical burden give her the edge.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Anisimova 23–10 | Samsonova 13–13
• Grass Record (2024–25): Anisimova 9–2 | Samsonova 3–5
• Berlin Record: Anisimova 2–0 debut | Samsonova 7–2 (2021 champion)
• QF Appearances in 2025: Anisimova 4 | Samsonova 3