By Ros Satar

Katie Boulter [WC] v Elina Svitolina [1]
Sonay Kartal v Ella Seidel

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal joined Francesca Jones in advancing to the second round of the ASB Classic.

 

 

Katie Boulter [WC] v Elina Svitolina [1] | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Katie Boulter [WC] v Elina Svitolina [1]
H2H: Svitolina leads 1-0

WTA Auckland
New Zealand

Hard (O)
Prize Money: $4.285

Third on Centre Court, not before 6pm (5am GMT)
Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required

Katie Boulter came through her first round match against Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva and faces another Ukrainian – top seed Elina Svitolina.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2025)

H2H:
Katie Boulter (WR 112)
Elina Svitolina (WR 13)

Tournament Previous Best
Qualification (2018)
F (2024)

1st Serve Return Points Won %
35.9
36.6

Return Points Won %
43.0
44.7

Break Point Conversion %
47.1
45.9

Break Points Saved %
47.2
59.2

Overall Service Points Won %
53.6
59.1

Despite the gulf in rankings, Boulter is right up there with Svitolina in terms of return stats. And actually was more effective converting her break points.

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

Boulter made a confident start in her first round match, jumping out to an early lead and holding on despite losing her own serve once in the first set. It was a similar story in the second set, setting up a clash with top seed Svitolina.

Svitolina also breezed into the second round, and holds a head-to-head lead over the Brit. Despite reaching the Montreal quarter-final, she was bundled out in the first round of Cincinnati and the US Open, closing down her season after the Billie Jean King Cup in September, and returning for the World Tennis League in December.

The pair are matched in terms of their aggressive baseline play, but Svitolina’s defence skills will set her apart. Boulter will have to rely on first trike tennis to make a dent, and could make some chances as Svitolina has been vulnerable to more aggressive players but Boulter can run out of ideas against players with more variety.

Prediction: Svitolina in straight sets.

 

 

Sonay Kartal v Ella Seidel | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Sonay Kartal v Ella Seidel
H2H: First Meeting

WTA Auckland
New Zealand

Hard (O)
Prize Money: $4.285

Last on Centre Court not before 7:30pm (6:30am GMT)
Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required

Sonay Kartal scored a good win against the seeded Janice Tjen and faces Germany’s Ella Seidel.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2025)

H2H:
Sonay Kartal (WR 68)
Ella Seidel (WR 84)

Tournament Previous Best
Debut
Debut

1st Serve Return Points Won %
36.5
36.1

Return Points Won %
43.1
42.8

Break Point Conversion %
48.2
46.1

Break Points Saved %
57.2
61.8

Overall Service Points Won %
59.4
58.5

Kartal not surprisingly leads most of the pertinent stats, but Seidel has been more effective when it comes to saving break points.

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

Kartal started the most dominant in her first round match, leaping out to a 5-0 lead over the sixth seed, but Tjen started stronger in the second set and was able to level the match. Kartal was first to break in the decider and held on to that to close out the match.

Seidel will be no pushover – the German plays an aggressive baseline game and has powerful groundstrokes and keeps her composure under pressure. Kartal’s disruptive game will test that resolve and perhaps has a little more variety to her game.

Prediction: Kartal in three sets.

 

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