By Jacob Atkinson & Ros Satar
- Emma Raducanu [WC] v Ena Shibahara [Q] | H2H: First Meeting
- Fran Jones [WC] v Caroline Dolehide [8] | H2H: First Meeting
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – Emma Raducanu will make her return to the tour after skipping Roland Garros, and Fran Jones will also be in action.
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Emma Raducanu [WC] v Ena Shibahara [Q] | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Raducanu [WC] vs Ena Shibahara [Q] | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA 250 Nottingham | UK |
| Grass | Prize Money: $2,890 |
| Third on Centre Court, not before 2pm | Across BBC iPlayer & Red Button |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 209) | Ena Shibahara (WR 274) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R1 (2022) | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 37.7 | 50.5 |
| Return Points Won % | 43.7 | 52.3 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 40.7 | 75 |
| Break Points Saved % | 59.5 | 44.4 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 57.4 | 65.2 |
Playing Styles & Prediction
Emma Raducanu returns to the WTA tour in Nottingham this week ahead of her matchup against Ena Shibahara.
It was a clay court swing to forget for the 2021 US Open champion, losing in the first round of Madrid to Maria Lourdes Carle and withdrawing from the Roland Garros qualification rounds. Having used this time to prepare for the grass court swing, The Brit will be looking for a strong week at Nottingham, especially after missing out last year due to injury.
This is the first ever meeting between Raducanu and Shibahara, so an essence of the unknown is in the air ahead of their match. Shibahara is an expert when it comes to doubles with a career high of four, however on the singles circuit she has reached a career peak of 82 in the world.
Prediction: Raducanu in straight sets.
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Fran Jones [WC] v Caroline Dolehide [8] | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Fran Jones [WC] v Caroline Dolehide [8] | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA 250 Nottingham | UK |
| Grass | Prize Money: $2,890 |
| Third on Court 1, not before 2pm | Across BBC iPlayer & Red Button |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Fran Jones (WR 249) | Caroline Dolehide (WR 58) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R1 (2021) | R2 (2021) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 41.4 | 33.8 |
| Return Points Won % | 47.3 | 40.7 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 51.4 | 44.1 |
| Break Points Saved % | 57.9 | 53.4 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 54.3 | 57.3 |
Fran Jones has gained lot of her better stats from having played a lot more on the lower tier tournaments, while Caroline Dolehide suffered somewhat from a poor start to the year, and a five-match losing streak until Indian Wells.
Playing Styles & Prediction
Jones is slowly clambering her way back up the rankings after an injury-stricken 2023, and leg cramps halted her start to the year at the Australian Open, but has been very active on the lower tier clay courts. The British crowd will be willing her on t a first win at all on the green stuff and she may well fancy her chances, as Dolehide has gone the last two years without a win on grass.
Prediction: Jones in three sets.
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