Clara Tauson 🇩🇰 vs. Caroline Dolehide 🇺🇸

🎾 WTA Washington 2025 – Round of 16 Preview

Clara Tauson 🇩🇰 vs. Caroline Dolehide 🇺🇸

📍 Washington, D.C. | 🗓️ July 24 | 🎾 Hard (Outdoor)

🧠 Form & Context

Clara Tauson
🚀 2025 breakout: Rose into the top 20 after a stellar season with a title in Auckland and a finals run in Dubai.
🏛️ Slam consistency: Reached R3 or better at all four majors, including impressive wins at Wimbledon over Rybakina and Kalinskaya.
💥 Hard-court success: 14–5 record on the surface this year. Already beat Dolehide on U.S. hard courts (Miami 2024).
🧠 Mental growth: Much better in pressure moments now, with improved fitness and point construction.

Caroline Dolehide
🧗‍♀️ Hard-earned wins: Has already played (and won) three tough matches this week, including a thriller vs. Kessler.
📊 Hard-court bounceback: 8–4 in 2025, showing signs of form after a tough 2024.
💪 Durability tested: Also playing doubles—match load is high and may start to show.
🎯 Struggles vs elite: Just 3–19 lifetime against top-20 opponents, with no such win this year.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Tauson’s power, form, and tactical discipline make her the clear favorite. But Dolehide’s confidence is growing after surviving multiple three-set battles and getting strong home support in Washington.

For Dolehide to pull off an upset, she’ll need to neutralize Tauson’s first-strike game and keep her moving laterally with higher, heavier balls. The Dane is more vulnerable when pulled out of her comfort zone in longer exchanges—but this year, she’s shown improved court coverage and mental resilience in those moments.

Both players have similar serving styles, but Tauson holds the edge on return. Her ability to take control of baseline points and finish at the first opportunity may be too much for Dolehide to handle unless she plays one of her cleanest matches ever.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Tauson in 2 sets — Expect a tight first set, but Tauson’s superior weapons and current form should see her pull away late.

ATP Queen’s Club: Ben Shelton vs Arthur Rinderknech

ATP Queen’s Club: Ben Shelton vs Arthur Rinderknech – Momentum Meets Struggle

🧠 Form & Context

Ben Shelton 🇺🇸
🌱 Grass Turning Point: Reached the semifinals in Stuttgart, signaling a major leap on grass after a 6–7 record across 2023–24.
📈 Top-10 Debut: Cracked the ATP top 10 this month, boosted by strong showings on clay and continued progress across all surfaces.
⚡ 2025 Surge: Slam semifinal in Melbourne, finalist in Munich, multiple Masters runs—form and confidence are peaking.
📍 Queen’s History: 1R loss here last year to Mpetshi Perricard; looking to make amends with better grass instincts now in place.
Arthur Rinderknech 🇫🇷
🍀 Another Lucky Draw: Fell in Queen’s qualifying but reached main draw via lucky loser route.
📉 2025 Woes: Just 9–20 this year, with 10 first-round exits in 15 tournaments.
🎾 Flashes on Grass: Beat Shapovalov and took a set off Fucsovics in Stuttgart—suggesting some comfort on faster surfaces.
🧱 Game Built for Grass: Serve-and-volley skills and a flat backhand—suited for quick points—but execution has lacked consistency.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a duel between one of the Tour's most exciting risers and a veteran looking to find traction. Shelton’s lefty serve, especially on grass, is becoming elite. Add improved second-shot aggression and better movement, and he’s quickly becoming dangerous on all surfaces. Rinderknech has the tools—big serve, net game, low-slice backhand—but not the confidence. His wins have been isolated, and he hasn’t put together a solid run all year. If he serves well, he could force a breaker, but breaking Shelton on this court is a tough ask. Expect Shelton to take charge of most rallies on his terms, especially with Rinderknech’s return numbers sagging and his forehand too passive to trouble an in-form American.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Ben Shelton in 2 sets With one tiebreak very possible, Shelton’s form, fitness, and momentum edge should lead him to a composed, efficient win.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Shelton 27–13 | Rinderknech 9–20
• Grass Record (Career): Shelton 9–9 | Rinderknech 12–13
• Last 3 Matches: Shelton – SF in Stuttgart | Rinderknech – Q Loss at Queen’s
• Style: Shelton – Power lefty, big serve + forehand | Rinderknech – Serve & volley, flat backhand

ATP Queen's Club: Reilly Opelka vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli

ATP Queen's Club: Reilly Opelka vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli – Surface Mismatch on Display

🧠 Form & Context

Reilly Opelka 🇺🇸
🌱 Gaining Grass Confidence: Coming off a strong semifinal run in ’s-Hertogenbosch with wins over Medvedev and Jarry.
🔥 2025 Rebound: Fully fit and finding rhythm after years of injury—now 20–15 on the year.
💣 Serve Power: Towering serve and flat forehand thrive on grass; 6 of his last 9 grass matches featured at least one tiebreak.
⚠️ Queen’s Struggles: 0–2 in main draw matches here in previous years but enters with vastly improved form.
🛠️ Backhand Evolution: Incorporating slice and blocked returns to stay in points—key to recent grass success.
Camilo Ugo Carabelli 🇦🇷
🌾 New to Queen’s: First appearance at this venue and on British grass.
🎾 Clay Loyalist: 22–12 on clay in 2025 with deep runs in Santiago and Rio, but 0–2 on grass lifetime.
💤 Rust Risk: Out of competition since RG; match fitness and grass adaptation are question marks.
📈 Career High: Risen to World No. 53 largely on clay-court consistency.
⚠️ Style Mismatch: Baseline grinding not ideal for quick, slick surfaces.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Expect quick points and contrasting styles. Opelka’s ultra-short service games, flat hitting, and grass-court experience will likely overwhelm the slower, grind-heavy approach of Ugo Carabelli. With just two career grass matches (both losses), the Argentine will need a miracle return day to stay competitive. If Opelka lands over 60% of his first serves—and avoids prolonged baseline rallies—he should keep the match on his terms. Grass neutralizes Ugo Carabelli’s clay-based strengths and highlights his vulnerabilities in court positioning and timing.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Opelka in 2 sets This has all the markings of a routine grass-court win for the American. Expect short rallies, one or two tiebreaks, and minimal break chances for either player.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Opelka 20–15 | Ugo Carabelli 22–14
• Grass Record: Opelka 23–19 (ATP level) | Ugo Carabelli 0–2
• Last 3 Matches: Opelka – SF in ’s-Hertogenbosch | Ugo Carabelli – 1R exit at Roland-Garros
• Style: Opelka – Big-server, short points | Ugo Carabelli – Baseline grinder, longer rallies

🎾 WTA Charleston: Gadecki vs Baptiste – Match Preview

🎾 WTA Charleston: Gadecki vs Baptiste – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🟩 Hailey Baptiste

• 🚀 Climbing the ranks: Strong 2024 form with wins over Danilovic, Kasatkina, and a QF in Auckland.
• 🛑 Rested & ready: Skipped Puerto Vallarta to recharge after the Sunshine Swing—smart scheduling ahead of clay season.
• 📍 Charleston veteran: Making her fourth appearance at the Credit One Open, with three straight R2 finishes.
• 🏃‍♀️ In her element: Athletic, aggressive, and ready to shine on green clay at home.

🟥 Olivia Gadecki

• 🔻 Tough start to 2025: Has lost 9 of her last 10 matches, struggling to find rhythm.
• 🌟 2023 success fading: Strong results last year have been hard to replicate in 2024.
• 🧱 Clay challenges: Game better suited to hard courts—Charleston’s slower surface may not play to her strengths.
• 👀 Debut in Charleston: First main draw appearance at the Credit One Open, facing a tough test.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Baptiste is in control here—her explosive forehand, athleticism, and home-court confidence give her a major advantage. Her form, especially against top-tier players, suggests she’s ready to break through to the later rounds in Charleston.

Gadecki’s flat-hitting style may earn her quick points, but without rhythm or recent wins, her confidence may falter if Baptiste applies early scoreboard pressure. On clay, Baptiste’s legs and consistency should wear her down over time.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Baptiste in straight sets

Unless Gadecki drastically raises her level, expect the American to dominate with her all-court game and physical edge on a surface she enjoys.