Wang Xinyu 🇨🇳 vs. Lucie Havlickova 🇨🇿

🎾 WTA Prague 2025 – Round of 16 Preview

Wang Xinyu 🇨🇳 vs. Lucie Havlickova 🇨🇿

📍 Prague | 🗓️ July 23 | 🎾 Hard (Outdoor)

🧠 Form & Context

Wang Xinyu
💥 Explosive tools: A 23-year-old power player from China known for her booming serve and heavy forehand.
🌿 Grass-court surge: Finalist in Berlin with wins over Gauff and Samsonova; also beat Muchova at Wimbledon.
💤 Hard-court issues: Just 5–7 on hard in 2025, and hasn’t reached a hard-court quarterfinal since Indian Wells.
🇨🇿 Inconsistent in Prague: A semifinalist here in 2021 but suffered early exits since. Looked solid in R1 with a 6–3, 6–3 win over Dart.

Lucie Havlickova
👶 Young gun: At just 20, has built an impressive 16–2 record in 2025—mostly in ITF events on clay.
🔥 In-form locally: Claimed an ITF title in Mogyorod and notched her first WTA main-draw win over Kovackova in R1.
🚧 Massive jump: Ranked No. 838 and has never beaten a top-100 opponent. Just 1–6 lifetime in WTA matches.
🏠 Hometown edge: Born and raised in Prague and familiar with the court conditions—local crowd could inspire.

🔍 Match Breakdown

It’s a classic clash between a proven tour-level hitter and a local underdog on the rise. Wang’s aggressive baseline style is built for this surface, and if she lands a high percentage of first serves, she should keep rallies short and dominate with her forehand.

Havlickova’s strategy will rely on patience—extending points, using spin, and hoping Wang gets frustrated or goes off rhythm. She doesn’t yet have the firepower to win on her own terms, but her familiarity with these conditions may allow her to hang tough for stretches.

If Wang keeps her composure and avoids giving the Czech too many second-serve looks, she should progress without major trouble. The only risk is mental drift, especially in a close first set.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Wang Xinyu in straight sets — Expect the Czech to challenge early, but Wang’s weapons and experience should prove decisive as the match goes on.