🎾 WTA Eastbourne – Round 1 Preview Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Viktoriya Tomova

🎾 WTA Eastbourne – Round 1 Preview

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Viktoriya Tomova

Power vs persistence. Can Pavlyuchenkova hit through the Bulgarian wall, or will Tomova’s grass comfort and rhythm prove too steady?

🧠 Form & Context

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
🎢 Stop-start season (6-8). High point was a surprise Australian Open QF, but she’s 1-5 since early February.
🏆 Proven pedigree: former world No. 11 with 10 career titles and a Roland-Garros final (2021).
🌱 Grass history: 26-30 lifetime, twice reached Eastbourne R16 and has a Wimbledon QF on her résumé (2016).
🔍 Hasn’t played a match since losing R1 at Roland-Garros four weeks ago; arrives fresh but under-repped on lawns this year.

Viktoriya Tomova
⬇️ Slipping to 9-16 in 2025, plagued by early exits against top seeds.
🌿 Comfortable on grass: QF here in 2022 and a tidy 2-2 this swing despite losses to Mertens (’s-Hertogenbosch) and Siniakova (Berlin).
🤝 Owns the lone H2H win (2023 Linz qualies) thanks to persistent counter-punching and court coverage.
💪 Match-tough after six grass starts in June (including qualifying rounds).

🔍 Match Breakdown

First-strike edge: Pavlyuchenkova’s flat baseline lasers penetrate quicker on grass; if the Russian lands >60% first serves, she dictates.
Rally tolerance: Tomova excels in long exchanges and loves redirecting pace; she’ll target Pavlyuchenkova’s movement and backhand corner.
Return dynamics: Pavlyuchenkova steps in on second serves—Tomova’s weaker delivery could be punished. Conversely, Tomova’s deep returns force extra balls, testing Pavlyuchenkova’s fitness.
Momentum swings: Pavlyuchenkova has lost four of her last five third sets; Tomova is 5-3 in deciders this season—edge to the Bulgarian if it drags out.

🔮 Prediction

Experience and raw firepower favor Pavlyuchenkova, but match sharpness tilts toward Tomova. Expect an up-and-down affair with plenty of momentum swings. In quick conditions, Pavlyuchenkova’s heavier strokes should eventually break through—yet the upset door is open if errors creep in.

Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

📊 Tale of the Tape

• H2H: Tomova leads 1-0 (2023 Linz qualifying)
• 2025 W/L: Pavlyuchenkova 6–8 • Tomova 9–16
• Grass W/L (Career): Pavlyuchenkova 26–30 • Tomova 19–18
• Best 2025 Result: Pavlyuchenkova (AO QF) • Tomova (WTA 125 R16)