Katie Boulter in the Fed Cup tie between Great Britain and Slovenia in Bath, UK 2019
Katie Boulter in the Fed Cup tie between Great Britain and Slovenia in Bath, UK 2019 | (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021 | Katie Boulter v Anna Kalinskaya | Preview & Prediction

  • Katie Boulter v Anna Kalinskaya
  • H2H: Boulter leads 1-0 (ITF)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Katie Boulter faces Anna Kalinskaya in the first round of the WTA Gippsland Trophy.

 

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H2H & Match Fundamentals

Katie Boulter v Anna Kalinskaya H2H: Boulter leads 1-0 (ITF)
WTA 500: Gippsland Trophy R1 Melbourne, Australia
Hard (O) Prize Money: $3000
First on Court 8 10:30am

(Sunday 11:30pm GMT)

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READ MORE | Tennis | WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021 | Latest Tennis Schedule & Draws

 

Preview: Katie Boulter v Anna Kalinskaya | H2H: Boulter leads 1-0 (ITF)

Having been forced off the tour in 2019 after suffering a stress fracture in her back, it is a long march back for Britain’s Katie Boulter, as she starts her season, and gained her place in the Australian Open main draw using her protected ranking, having slipped far below her previous best of World No. 82.

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Anna Kalinskaya started 2021 with her bid to reach the Australian Open falling in the second round of qualifying.

It has been a while since the pair met, with Boulter having the measure of her at an ITF level, before losing much of 2019 to injury, while Kalinskaya had a steady enough 2020 as much as anyone could and is bubbling along just outside the Top 100.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2020)

H2H: Anna Kalinskaya (114) Katie Boulter (369)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 28.5 34.5
Return Points Won % 33.3 37.1
Break Point Conversion 48.1 64.3
Break Points Saved 47.9 54.2
Total Points Won 43.7 48.0

 

Playing Styles

Boulter will generally look to generally impose with her more aggressive game, looking to make the most of a hefty first serve. She should certainly look to be gaining some free points there as she handles the generally more defensive game of Kalinskaya.

What the Russian may look to do is keep the rallies longer, coaxing the errors, especially if Boulter’s forehand goes a little wayward.

 

Prediction

While Kalinskaya has had the lion’s share of tour level matches last year, what little tour level coverage Boulter had was made to count with better stats overall. Add to that a win already in their head to head, albeit before losing the best part of 2019 to injury, Boulter does have the game to take it to Kalinskaya and it will be a good measure as to where her game is at.

Prediction: Boulter in three sets.

Boulter and Kalinskaya are scheduled first on Court 8 at 10:30am (11:30 pm GMT).

 

 

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