Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Strasbourg match.
For Magdalena Frech, the Strasbourg opener is a final opportunity to fine-tune her game ahead of Roland Garros, where she aims to reach at least the second week. However, the draw has presented a difficult challenge. Anna Blinkova holds the advantage in their head-to-head meetings and has consistently posed problems for Frech, particularly on clay. Having come through the qualifying rounds, the Russian has already acclimatised to both the surface and local conditions.
Magdalena Frech
The Polish player is currently ranked inside the WTA Top 30, but her 2025 season has been inconsistent. She has managed just six wins from 18 matches this year and has suffered first-round eliminations in seven of the 12 tournaments she has entered. On clay, Magdalena Frech has lost three of her last six matches and has averaged a first serve percentage of just 56.9%.
Anna Blinkova
Anna Blinkova has shown clear signs of improvement in recent weeks, claiming six wins from her last eight outings on clay. Having successfully navigated the qualifying rounds in Strasbourg, she has adjusted well to the conditions, winning 69% of points behind her first serve. She leads the head-to-head against Magdalena Frech (4-2), with both of their previous matches on clay resulting in three-set victories for the Russian.
Magdalena Frech vs Anna Blinkova Prediction
Anna Blinkova has won seven of her ten clay court matches this season. While Magdalena Frech is expected to provide a stern test, Anna Blinkova’s superior record against her on this surface and her recent form in Strasbourg make her the more likely winner in this matchup.
