Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Wimbledon match.
Both players were well aware that a tough draw could mean an early exit at Wimbledon, but as things stand, both Pavlyuchenkova and Tomljanović have a real shot at progressing — which means neither will go down without a fight.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Pavlyuchenkova has played just one tournament on grass this season but impressed there. She reached the semi-finals in Eastbourne, eventually losing to World No. 41 Katie Boulter (5:7, 3:6). It was the first time the Russian had made it that far since February 2024, so she heads into Wimbledon riding a wave of confidence. Her next opponent is hardly stronger than those she faced in London.
Ajla Tomljanović
Tomljanović, by contrast, has had significantly more grass-court action, although much of it came in qualifiers. She earned spots in the main draws at tournaments in London and Hamburg but went out in the first round both times. The Australian's serve remains a glaring weakness: she’s recorded more than five aces in only two of her last eight matches — not ideal given how crucial service points are on grass. In her latest loss to Linda Nosková (3:6, 2:6), she won just 75% of points on her first serve compared to her opponent’s 86%.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Ajla Tomljanović Prediction
Pavlyuchenkova clearly comes into this in far better form. It’s also worth noting she’s won all three of their previous encounters. Yes, the last one was four years ago, but psychologically that still weighs in — Tomljanović knows she struggles against this opponent.
