Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA London match.
British hopeful Sonay Kartal returns to the courts in London on a high after stunning World No.16 Daria Kasatkina. But the challenge only gets tougher now, as she faces World No.15 Amanda Anisimova — a power hitter steadily gaining momentum in her build-up to Wimbledon.
Sonay Kartal
Kartal’s win over Kasatkina certainly raised eyebrows, but it came in a tightly contested three-set affair where the Russian largely unraveled through unforced errors. Kartal’s dip in the second set and reliance on opponent mistakes in the decider raise concerns ahead of this next test. Against top-20 opposition, her record is bleak — she’s lost four of her last five, and those defeats all came in matches with fewer than 22 total games. So far this year, Kartal has only made it past the second round once in 10 tournament appearances, reaching the last 16 in Indian Wells.
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova looks more comfortable with each match on grass. After a slow start against Jodie Burrage, the American found her range in the second set, showcasing her trademark heavy hitting, sharp angles, and deft drop shots. She tallied 12 aces and won 75% of points behind her first serve. When facing lower-ranked players, Anisimova tends to dominate — she’s won four of her last six such encounters in straight sets.
Sonay Kartal vs Amanda Anisimova Prediction
Kartal may have enjoyed a breakthrough moment, but consistency at this level remains a work in progress. Anisimova’s power game should dictate the tempo and expose the Brit’s defensive shortcomings. If Amanda finds rhythm early, expect a clean and clinical win.
