Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Eastbourne match.
Emma Raducanu returns to home soil, where crowd support is guaranteed. The Brit has already displayed promising form in London and now looks to build on that success in Eastbourne. Standing in her way is Ann Li, a player ranked outside the top 50, but this won’t be a walk in the park for Raducanu.
Ann Li
Li isn’t at her best on grass — she’s lost four of her last six matches on the surface. However, the American often takes matches deep. In her last ten outings, the over 19.5 games market has consistently landed. Her three most recent grass-court encounters all featured at least 19 games, indicating her ability to extend rallies and stay in the contest.
Emma Raducanu
Raducanu has been dominant against players outside the top 50, winning 8 of her last 10 such matchups. Last week she reached the quarter-finals in London, showcasing strong movement, a reliable serve, and aggressive baseline play. Grass suits her style well — she’s won 10 of her previous 14 matches on the surface, clearly thriving on its pace and low bounce.
Ann Li vs Emma Raducanu Prediction
Raducanu has the upper hand on grass and will benefit from the home crowd atmosphere. Still, Ann Li tends to dig in, even when outmatched, and is capable of pushing sets close. Expect Raducanu to win, but not without resistance.
