Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Eastbourne match.
For Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, this match may primarily serve as preparation for Wimbledon, whereas Kamilla Rakhimova has a genuine chance to reach the semi-finals of a prominent tournament and boost her ranking.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has played just 16 matches since the start of the season, winning only half of them. Notably, she was eliminated in the opening round in five of the eight tournaments she has entered in 2025. Her overall grass-court record is negative, with 28 wins and 30 defeats, and she has struggled significantly at the quarter-finals stage, losing 11 of her last 14 matches at that point. In Eastbourne, Pavlyuchenkova defeated Viktoriya Tomova and Kimberly Birrell, but both contests went over 23.5 games in total.
Kamilla Rakhimova
In contrast, Kamilla Rakhimova has delivered consistently strong results on grass this season, posting six wins and just two losses. However, only three of those matches featured a total games count under 21. In Eastbourne, Rakhimova overcame Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Peyton Stearns, converting eight break points across the two matches. She has shown particular confidence against older opponents, winning 10 of her last 12 encounters against players aged over 30.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Kamilla Rakhimova Prediction
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is still working her way back to form after a lengthy absence and has yet to reach optimal fitness. Kamilla Rakhimova, meanwhile, appears comfortable on grass and looks well positioned to claim at least one set against her more experienced compatriot.
