🇦🇺 Ajla Tomljanović vs 🇱🇻 Anastasija Sevastova – WTA Montreal R1 Preview
🎾 Monday, July 28 · WTA 1000 Montreal · Outdoor Hard
🧠 Form & Context
Ajla Tomljanović 🇦🇺
- 🎾 Hard-court specialist: 6–5 on hard in 2025, but still looking for her first main-draw win since Roland-Garros
- 🏃♀️ Tough grass stretch: Failed to advance past qualifying at four straight events; suffered R1 losses in Berlin and Bad Homburg
- 📍 Montreal record: 1–4 career W-L; aiming for her first Round 2 appearance here
Anastasija Sevastova 🇱🇻
- 🏥 Inspirational return: Came back from ACL surgery and maternity leave to reach Madrid R3 and Rabat QF
- 🔄 Form dip since May: Winless since Rabat, including two grass-court losses; fitness remains in question
- 📉 Ranking drop: Once world No. 11, now No. 386; back in Montreal main draw for the first time since reaching QF in 2018
🔍 Match Breakdown
Serve & Return: Tomljanović’s kick serve and deep ball trajectory will push Sevastova off balance; the Latvian will need to lean on her slice return to stay neutral early in points.
Baseline Dynamics: Sevastova brings tactical variation, drop shots, and spins that can disrupt rhythm, but Tomljanović’s flat-striking will dictate if she finds her range.
Physical Edge: Tomljanović has the clear fitness advantage. Long rallies and directional shifts will likely wear down Sevastova if her movement isn’t 100%.
🔮 Prediction
Tomljanović’s match sharpness and hard-court comfort should carry her through. Sevastova may challenge with her creativity, but fitness and timing lean Ajla’s way in both sets.
🧩 Pick: Ajla Tomljanović def. Anastasija Sevastova 6–4, 7–5
