WTA Nottingham: Anna Blinkova vs Clara Tauson – Grass Showdown

WTA Nottingham: Anna Blinkova vs Clara Tauson – Grass Showdown

🧠 Form & Context

Anna Blinkova 🇷🇺
🔥 Consistent grinder: 19–15 in 2025, solid but lacks deep breakthroughs.
🌱 Grass-ready: Reached R16 in Hertogenbosch and beat Rakhimova handily in R1. Flat groundstrokes suit fast surfaces.
🎢 Inconsistency issue: Capable of brilliant sets (e.g., vs Siniakova) and sudden dips (e.g., 0–6 vs Alexandrova).
🧱 Tour veteran: Two career titles, 500+ pro matches—brings a steady tactical base.
🔄 Workload concern: Has played over 20 matches since April; may feel physical toll.
Clara Tauson 🇩🇰
🚀 Breakout season: 22–11 in 2025, including a Dubai final and career-high ranking.
🌿 Grass fit: Powerful game well-suited to slick grass courts; cruised past Birrell in R1.
🧠 H2H edge: Leads 2–1 over Blinkova, including a straight-sets win earlier this season.
🧬 Improving physically: Injury-prone past, but enjoying her healthiest season in years.
💎 Big-match confidence: At 22, she brings offensive shot-making and tactical evolution.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This clash pits Blinkova’s rally tolerance and experience against Tauson’s aggressive court control. Blinkova thrives on redirection and point construction but often lacks the firepower to dictate play—especially on grass. Tauson will look to take time away from the Russian, attacking early with her serve and penetrating forehands. She’s won their last two meetings, including a straightforward win in Linz, and enters Nottingham with clear momentum. Blinkova’s path to victory relies on absorbing pressure, drawing errors, and making Tauson uncomfortable with pace changes. If the Dane overpresses or tightens up in key moments, an upset isn’t out of the question.

🔮 Prediction

Tauson’s rise, surface compatibility, and recent head-to-head success point to another win. Blinkova has tools to compete but will struggle to control the tempo if Tauson starts fast. Pick: Clara Tauson in straight sets – look for a tight contest with at least one tiebreak set.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Blinkova 19–15 | Tauson 22–11
• H2H: Tauson leads 2–1 (most recent: Tauson 6–4, 6–3 in Linz 2025)
• Grass W/L: Blinkova 9–11 | Tauson 7–5
• Titles: Blinkova 2 | Tauson 1
• Rankings: Blinkova No. 48 | Tauson No. 29