Laura Samson vs Dominika Šalková

WTA Prague 1st Round Preview: Laura Samson vs Dominika Šalková

🧠 Form & Context

Laura Samson
🔥 Strong ITF form: 22–13 on the year, with her best results coming on clay, but she’s also held her own on hard (4–3).
🇨🇿 Breakthrough last year: Reached the semifinals in Prague in 2024 as a wildcard, beating top-200 opponents and showing clear potential.
🔁 Momentum from recent weeks: Reached QFs in Olomouc and Haag 2 ITFs, scoring convincing straight-set wins.
🧱 Lacks hard-court pedigree: Her best tennis has been on slower surfaces, and she’s still finding her rhythm on hard courts at this level.

Dominika Šalková
📊 Steady Czech prospect: Ranked slightly higher than Samson, and more experienced across WTA and ITF circuits.
⚙️ Heavier schedule: Already 33 matches in 2025 (19–14 record) with deeper ITF runs and a better track record on faster courts.
🏆 Recent title: Won Zagreb 2 ITF last month, showing grit and clutch performance in close sets.
👎 Hard-court concerns: Just 0–2 on hard in 2025 so far, and has underwhelmed in her last two main-draw appearances on the surface.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This all-Czech battle is likely to be decided by who can better adapt their clay-honed strengths to the slicker Prague hard courts. Samson’s breakout run last year came on these courts, and she knows how to build points patiently. However, Šalková has faced a broader range of competition and tends to elevate against opponents she’s expected to beat.

Samson has the better recent form and is playing with confidence, while Šalková has the edge in power and experience—but her record on hard this season doesn’t inspire full confidence.

Expect long rallies, high emotion, and a tight contest that could turn into a mental battle more than a physical one. Over games look more appealing than a side pick in this matchup.