By Ros Satar
- Katie Boulter [26] v Rebecca Sramkova [Q]
- H2H: First Meeting
ROME, ITALY – Katie Boulter makes another clay court debut, where she faces confident qualifier Rebecca Sramkova, who has yet to drop a set.
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Katie Boulter [26] v Rebecca Sramkova [Q] | H2H: First Meeting
| Katie Boulter [26] v Rebecca Sramkova [Q] | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Rome | Italy |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €16,965 |
| Fifth on Court 12, not before 5pm (4pm BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Katie Boulter (WR 28) | Rebecca Sramkova (WR 120) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 35.1 | 38.5 |
| Return Points Won % | 43.4 | 46.3 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 42.4 | 50.7 |
| Break Points Saved % | 59.2 | 53.6 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 60.2 | 56.0 |
Rebecca Sramkova has not only breezed through the Rome qualifying draw and into the second round, but she has been putting in the time on clay, versus Katie Boulter’s three matches this far this year.
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Playing Styles & Prediction
There had been high hopes in Madrid for Boulter to notch up a first WTA main draw win on clay after a spirited start against Robin Montgomery. That completely unravelled, leaving the 26th seed still looking for that first win.
More importantly, Boulter must try and protect her rank and potential seeding for when Wimbledon rolls around, and the next few weeks including Roland Garros will be crucial. She was humbled in her opening Billie Jean King Cup match against France’s Diane Parry, but she was able to come back and clinch a win. But she is undercooked against the Slovakian qualifier.
Sramkova’s brand of clobbering the ball as soon as she possibly could against Italian wildcard Georgia Pedone means we need to prepare for a slugfest on claggy Roman clay. She has already taken out one Brit in this tournament, sending Harriet Dart packing in the first round of qualifiers.
Sramkova is yet to drop a set, and Boulter was taken the distance in Madrid where the ball fizzes along at altitude. Can Sramkova make it two from two?
Prediction: Sramkova in three sets.
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